demonstrations

[student kicking the burning effigy of barack obama during a recent demonstration in nangarhar province. it is alleged that a quran was burned by nato/u.s. forces during an operation in wardak province.]

we are on lockdown today (half of us are on campus + the other half at home) because of demonstrations v. near us.

they began at kabul university this morning over the incident of the alleged burning of a quran in maidan wardak province by nato/u.s. soldiers + now have moved to habibia high school, just down the street from the university. we have had reports that the afghan police fired shots -- my friends at home heard a ton of gunshots.

there is actually ANOTHER protest going on (unrelated) in kabul today -- near the serena hotel -- having to do with banking.

i had heard that the kabul university demonstrations were peaceful, so i do not know what has led to the police firing shots -- it does not sound like anyone has been injured. we are warned that anti-american sentiment is running high + thus we have to stay put.