NATO pulls outs forces from Afghan ministry offices (Lead)
February 26th, 2012 - 1:09 am ICT by IANSKabul, Feb 25 (IANS) The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force Saturday recalled its forces from Afghan ministries and other military installations in Kabul after two NATO officers were killed in Afghanistan’s interior ministry complex.
The NATO-led forces recalled its forces from Afghan ministries and other military installation in Kabul following the shooting incident, Xinhua quoted a statement issued by ISAF of NATO as saying.
“For obvious force protection reasons, I have also taken immediate measures to recall all other ISAF personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul,” said ISAF Commander General John Allen in the statement.
NATO said an “individual” had turned his gun on the officers but denied earlier reports he was a Westerner, the BBC reported.
According to Afghan security officials, those killed were an American colonel and a major.
Local media reports suggested that the incident followed a “verbal clash”.
All British civilians were being withdrawn from the ministries in what was hoped would be a temporary measure, a British embassy spokesperson stated earlier.
The shootings occurred amid five days of deadly protests over the burning of copies of the Quran by US soldiers.
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Tags: british embassy, civilians, clash, colonel, commander general, interior ministry, international security assistance, isaf, kabul, local media, military installation, military installations, ministry offices, nato officers, protests, quran, security officials, spokesperson, westerner, xinhua