Fatal start to Afghan arms clean-up

KABUL (Agencies) - The Afghan Defence Ministry's clean-up of unauthorised firearms got off to a dramatic start yesterday when an armoured vehicle was blown up on a city street. The vehicle, manned by militiamen, was disabled by an anti-tank rocket after it refused an order from Defence Ministry forces to present a card authorising it to be on patrol. One militiaman was killed and six wounded.

Reports said flash floods in the Hindu Kush mountains north of Kabul have killed more than 450 people and left at least 500 missing.