British Man Arrested in Afghan Shootout

By TODD PITMAN
Associated Press Writer

February 26, 2003, 2:38 PM EST


KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan police detained a British man who allegedly killed two Afghans with a pistol during a shootout at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, state television reported Wednesday.

An unidentified American was reportedly injured in Tuesday's exchange of fire at the hotel, which has mostly foreign guests.

The shootout was sparked by a "conflict of interest concerning a commercial dealing" between the men, according to the state TV report.

The cause of the incident was not clear and a police investigation was under way, the report said. It gave no other details.

On Tuesday, Afghan police said a British man -- identified as a bodyguard of an American man and his Afghan wife -- was wounded in the clash.

A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that an injured British man was taken into police custody but gave no other details. He also said he was not aware that any Americans had been wounded.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Alberto Fernandez declined to comment. Katherine Brooker, a British Embassy spokeswoman, said officials were looking into the report but she did not provide further comment.

Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press

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