Afghans Continue To Protest Candidate's Slaying

3 October 2005 -- Hundreds of Afghans blocked a highway in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif today in a second day of protests to demand the arrest of the killer of a candidate in last month's parliamentary polls.
National Assembly candidate Mohammad Ashraf Ramazan was shot dead in Mazar-e Sharif on 27 September. Taliban guerrillas claimed responsibility, but the protesters blame the local administration.

Supporters of Ramazan, who belonged to the minority Shi'a Wahdat party, staged a peaceful protest yesterday before deciding to block the highway that runs through Mazar-e Sharif and links it to other northern cities.

About 2,000 vehicles and passenger buses were unable to use the road, witnesses and officials said.

(Reuters)


For RFE/RL's full coverage of the legislative elections in Afghanistan, see "Afghanistan Votes"