Author:
Publication: www.sify.com
Date: February 15, 2002
URL: http://headlines.sify.com/587news2.html
Afghanistan's minister for aviation
and tourism Abdul Rahman died late Thursday after he was beaten by an angry
mob of pilgrims who had been held up for two days at Kabul airport, sources
in the interim government told AFP.
Abdul Rahman "is dead, killed by
furious hajj pilgrims," said General Khalil Omed, the deputy commander
for Kabul security.
"The pilgrims were furious because
the planes were not arriving. At the same moment the minister was leaving
for Delhi. They attacked him in their hundreds. They beat him. Police tried
to save him but were unable to," added defence ministry secretary Habeel.
He said the interim minister "was
taken to hospital", but was unable to say where the victim died, adding
that the interim cabinet held a meeting after the bloody incident.
The incident took place at around
6:00pm (1330 GMT), he said.
Airport sources said two planes
carrying 890 pilgrims later left for Mecca.
