Afghans protest over shootings

Protesters want the Americans handed over to local authorities

Angry Afghans took to the streets of Kabul on Saturday and threw stones at US marines in protest at the killing of four Afghan soldiers by American troops.

The soldiers were shot dead last Wednesday outside the US embassy by Americans who mistakenly thought they were about to come under attack.

The US has since said it "regretted" the loss of life, but correspondents say the incident has stoked simmering disaffection with the American presence among Afghans.

"It's something very bad the Americans have done and I support this demonstration," one bystander told the BBC.

"If they have come here to give the people peace, then is that the meaning of peace - to take a gun and shoot people?"

Democratic right

Dozens of young men chanting "Death to America! Death to foreigners!" gathered outside the US embassy and threw stones at US marines looking on from watchtowers.

The Afghan police made little effort to restrain them, saying that it was the men's democratic right to take to the streets in protest.

They surrounded and kicked vehicles belonging to international peacekeepers, and some reports say two members of the force were injured - one suffering an injury to the head.

Many of the men were demanding that the American soldiers involved in the incident be handed over to the local authorities.

An official investigation into the shootings is currently underway, but the BBC's Kylie Morris in Kabul says there will need to be a quick resolution in order to quiet this sort of unrest on the streets.