‘Afghans urge US troops to withdraw’

Afghans have held a rally against US-led forces in their country, urging American troops to withdraw from Maidan Wardak province, Press TV reports.

The anti-US rally is being held in the Afghan capital Kabul.

The demonstration comes as a two-week deadline set by Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the US Special Forces to withdraw from Wardak expired.

Protesters chanted anti-US slogans, demanding an immediate withdrawal of US forces from the area.

The demonstrators included victims of US-led attacks in the eastern province. Others said their family members had been detained by American forces and demanded their release.

They also gathered outside the Afghan parliament building.

Wardak locals have been complaining of being abused by American special forces.

In late February, hundreds of protesters also gathered in Maidan Wardak demanding an immediate withdrawal of US forces.

The rising number of civilian casualties promoted President Hamid Karzai to order US special forces to leave the eastern province of Wardak.

The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 under the pretext of combating terrorism. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country despite the presence of thousands of US-led soldiers.

The US-led war, which has inflicted record-high civilian and military casualties, has become the longest military conflict in the American history.