June 9, 2003	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 8: American forces gunned down an Afghan bodyguard and injured a youth while arresting a son of a local commander in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktia province, a report said on Sunday.

The Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) agency quoted anti-Afghan government commander Bacha Khan Zadran as saying the incident took place on Thursday when he sent his son, Abdul Wali, and a bodyguard at the request of local people to hold talks with the US forces over the issue of a massive house-to-house search in the area.

“But as they got closer to the soldiers, the Americans opened fire on their vehicle, killing the bodyguard and also took away his son,” Zadran alleged.

He accused the United States troops of taking suppressive measures against locals, thus creating “resentments” among them.

Zadran had already lost a son and several fighters two months ago in fighting with pro-government forces.

The US soldiers were transported into Zadran’s area by helicopters so they could search for Taliban and Al Qaeda fugitives believed to be hiding in the region.

Eastern Paktia province has long been troubled by local rivalries and Taliban and Al Qaeda resistance; and last week, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai appointed a new police chief for the region.—dpa