15 August 2004	Sunday	28 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

HERAT, Aug 14: At least 21 people were killed in Afghanistan on Saturday in factional fighting for control of a abandoned airbase in a western province where militia commanders have launched raids to oust the provincial governor.

Turf wars in the provinces are a headache for President Hamid Karzai as Afghanistan prepares for its first presidential election on Oct 9, with ousted Taliban fighters running a guerilla war against US-led forces in the south and east.

A spokesman for Herat province Governor Ismail Khan and defence ministry officials in Kabul said fighting was raging at Shindand airfield some 100km south of Herat city, denying claims it had fallen overnight.

Local militia commander Amanullah Khan, an ethnic Pashtun, said there was "a local uprising" against the ethnic Tajik governor in Herat, who is an arch critic of Karzai.

The governor sent reinforcements and tanks to halt the attackers, an official said. He added that the defence ministry was informed both of the clashes in Shindand and plans by other militia commanders to strike from the east, northeast and north of Herat.

Amanullah Khan and Sayed Nasir Alawi, a spokesman for Herat's governor, said 21 people had been killed in Shindand's fighting alone. "Among them are two top commanders of Ismail Khan," said Amanullah Khan.

Local sources said casualties on both sides were higher than reported.

A defence ministry spokesman said the central government condemned the fighting but did not say what plans it had to restore order.

A US military spokesman in Kabul said tensions in Herat and Ghor provinces were being monitored and support would be offered to help end the fighting if a request came from the central government.

The Taliban and its allies have vowed to disrupt the presidential poll in October and parliamentary polls six months later.-Reuters