KABUL, Feb 7: At least 20 people have been killed and 40 injured in three days of factional fighting between local militia commanders in northern Afghanistan, the Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.

"Twenty people are killed and 40 injured in the continuing fighting in Badakhshan province," it reported.

The fighting started on Thursday in the Argo district.

The report said about 100 policemen under the leadership of the provincial police chief had reached the site but had been unable to stop the conflict.

Hundreds of residents had fled their homes to avoid the fighting, it said.

"People have asked the government to take some concrete steps to stop such nonsense factional fighting in which innocent civilians are the victims of warlords' interests," it said.

Fighting was continuing on Saturday between the district chief of Argo and commander Ziauddin, it said.-AFP