A television report said that thousands of pilgrims were at the airport and that some were angry over flight delays to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. They apparently beat up the minister who had gone to the airport to leave on a trip abroad. He is said to have died later in hospital.
Intense fighting was reported today at the main US military base near the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. Shooting and explosions were heard along the base perimeter, and according to one report, a huge fire was burning near three US transport helicopters. The fire was later extinguished. US operations against the remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaeda are directed from the base at Kandahar airport.
