10 February 2004	Tuesday	18 Zilhaj 1424

KABUL, Feb 9: Kabul was paralysed by heavy snow on Monday, after two days of cold weather and snow dumps in the country. For the first time in at least five years, more than 50 centimetres of snow has fallen in Kabul and the surrounding areas within two days , leaving the city blanketed in white.

Sunday's heavy snowfall left roads congested on Monday. Many routes were inaccessible and powerlines and trees were down all over the Afghan capital, which does not have the equipment necessary to remove the snow from the streets.

For the second consecutive day, Kabul international airport remained closed on Monday and all flights were cancelled. The media have made much of the winter weather, as Afghanistan has experienced five years of drought - between 1998 and 2003 - from which it has yet to recover. -AFP