KABUL, Jan 24: Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed on Tuesday a wave of public demonstrations that followed a suicide bombing last week, in particular praising a provincial chief who implicated Pakistan.

Thousands of Afghans have taken part in protests in at least four towns to condemn the January 16 attack — the deadliest in a recent string of suicide blasts — and accuse Pakistan of supporting the perpetrators.

The blast killed at least 22 men leaving a wrestling match in the town of Spin Boldak on the border with Pakistan.

The latest demonstration was in the city of Herat on Tuesday with nearly 1,000 people shouting, “Down with Pakistan, down with Pervez Musharraf.”—AFP