Peacekeepers kept in dark on Kabul plot

Most of the suspects were hiding in this house

International peacekeepers in Afghanistan say they had no prior information about an alleged coup plot against the government.

Commanders of the 18-nation International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) were not informed beforehand of the massive crackdown in which hundreds of suspects were arrested.

If there was a coup we should have been made aware of it

Isaf spokesman, Flight Lieutenant Tony Marshall

Only 160 of the 300 people arrested are still in custody. They are being questioned by the authorities.

The detainees are alleged to have been plotting bombings in Kabul and other destructive acts against the government.

Clarification sought

Isaf's British commander, General John McColl, is to meet senior officials from the interim administration of Hamid Karzai to seek clarification.

"If there was a coup we should have been made aware of it," Isaf spokesman Flight Lieutenant Tony Marshall, told journalists.

The peacekeepers were tipped off that arrests were planned - but were not told of the extent of the threat to Mr Karzai's administration.

The nearly 5,000-strong force was established by the United Nations Security Council in December.

Uncovering the plot

Kabul police chief General Deen Mohammad Jurat said the suspects still in custody were being questioned about their links to former prime minister and mujahideen leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: Leader of Pashtun-dominated Islamist group

Many of those arrested were associated with Mr Hekmatyar's Hizb-e-Islami party.

Mr Hekmatyar's forces were among several groups which battled for control of Kabul in the 1990s, inflicting great damage on the city.

Mr Hekmatyar's party represents ethnic Pashtuns, while Tajiks dominate the interim administration.

Last month, Mr Hekmatyar's party offered full co-operation and support to the interim government to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan.

Mr Hekmatyar fled to Iran after the Taleban captured Kabul in 1996, but the Iranian Government recently closed his offices in Tehran and he is now reported to be back in Afghanistan.