KABUL -- Hundreds of Afghans held a massive protest against the United States in the downtown area of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on Sunday, demanding an end of the U.S. role in Afghanistan.
AFP: About 500 people poured onto the streets of Kabul earlier on Sunday and chanted anti-American slogans over the deaths of the children. Marching through central Kabul they shouted "Death to America -- Death to the invaders." A placard carried by a veiled woman read: "Occupation = killing + destruction."
Holding banners "Permanent US military bases equals permanent slavery of Afghan people", "Occupation equals killing plus destruction" in their hands, the protesters shouted "Death to America" as they marched on the downtown street.
"The involvement of the US government in Afghanistan, that has a long history of cruelty, has not improved conditions in the country, but increased corruption, poverty, murders, poppy cultivation and trafficking," says the pamphlet handed out by the Solidarity Party of Afghanistan, the organizer of the protests.
Hangama, one of the organizers, told Xinhua, "Our aim is to condemn the civilian casualties caused by U.S. troops here in Afghanistan and we don't want the American presence in our country. "
The protesters called for an end of the U.S. role in Afghanistan and strongly condemned the U.S. intention to establish a permanent military base in the country.
"As the United States wants to establish a permanent base in Afghanistan, we call on our people not to allow the U.S. to occupy our country, not allow the Karzai government to sign the shameful agreement," said Hangama.
Women and even children were among the protesters, while a great number of policemen were on high alert in case of security incidents.
At its climax, the protesters burned U.S. President Barack Obama's effigy, shouting "Down with the U.S.".
Azada, a female protester said, "Today we demonstrate here to condemn the civilian causalities caused by the U.S forces and Taliban in our country. We want American troops to stop killing the innocent person, the children and the women."