Hundreds protest in Kabul over American special forces

KABUL (AFP) - Hundreds of Afghan demonstrators on Saturday marched to the Parliament complex in the capital Kabul demanding US special forces withdraw from Wardak province after allegations of abuse.

President Hamid Karzai ordered elite US units to pull out of the strategic province after he alleged that US soldiers and Afghan militia working with them had tortured and murdered civilians.

A few hundred protesters, many from Wardak, gathered in Kabul for the rally, which was overseen by a large number of armed riot police.

"We put up strict security measures and after the members of the Parliament promised they would address these complaints, the protesters dispersed peacefully," Kabul deputy police chief General Daud Amin told AFP. "They were demanding the withdrawal of American special forces from Wardak and also the release of some people detained by the Americans in the province."