50 killed in Kabul clashes

Kabul (Reuter) - At least 50 people were killed in Kabul yesterday and the Afghan President, Burhanuddin Rabbani, narrowly escaped injury as guerrillas south of the city traded rocket and artillery fire with defending government troops. A rocket fell within 100 yards of the room in the presidential palace where Mr Rabbani was holding a meeting, killing one bodyguard and injuring two others. Some 300 people were injured in the bombardment.

The fighting was between the forces of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, massed to the south of Kabul, and those of General Rasheed Dostum, garrisoned inside the capital at the ancient fortress of Bala Hissar.