The western Afghan city of Herat was calm yesterday following bloody clashes between supporters of a powerful ousted governor and US and Afghan forces sent to keep the peace.

Roadblocks set up by authorities on Sunday after Ismail Khan’s supporters torched buildings in a UN compound were removed and the skies were clear of helicopters for the first time since Saturday afternoon.

Medics and witnesses reported seven people killed and up to 50 injured in weekend violence which erupted when President Hamid Karzai – favourite to win Aghanistan’s first ever direct presidential election on Oct. 9 – sacked Khan and appointed a replacement as part of his campaign pledge to rein in warlords.

The US military said 15 of its soldiers were injured in the clashes, two of whom were evacuated for treatment, along with two Afghan national army servicemen.

On Sunday night, Ismail Khan called on his supporters to exercise restraint and the army announced on Herat TV that further violence would be countered with military force. Authorities also imposed a night time curfew, but did not say how long it would last.

Yesterday, shops were open and traffic was flowing normally on the streets of the strategic ancient city, near the border with Iran and Turkmenistan, although troops from the national army, national police and US-led forces were patrolling.

Karzai, named interim president in 2002 after a US-led invasion toppled the Taliban as punishment for protecting Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda, faces 17 rivals in the vote.

<B>Sayed Salahuddin</B>