World News 06-12-2001 Three US Soldiers Die In Friendly Fire who: President Hamid Karzai what: Named leader of Afghanistan`s interim government where: Bonn when: Yesterday snippet: "Three US special forces troops were killed and 19 injured in a bungled B-52 air raid in Afghanistan yesterday," reports The Sun as a 2,000lb satellite-guided "smart" bomb north of Kandahar caused the worst US military combat deaths of the war so far. By a curious twist of fate, the same bomb reportedly wounded Pashtun commander Hamid Karzai, "the very man who, just hours later, was appointed to head an interim government in Afghanistan," says The Independent. Afghan leaders in Bonn signed a UN-brokered peace agreement yesterday, reports The Financial Times. If he survives further US friendly fire, Mr Karzai, "who re-entered the country in October to rally opposition to the Taliban," will take over as leader in Kabul for a six month period beginning on December 22nd. "The choice of Mr Karzai, a member of the largest ethnic group, counterbalances the influence gained by the Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras through the rout of the Taliban," comments The Telegraph. "Both he and his ministers wish to transcend the tribalism of the warlords and build a united, modern state." Elsewhere, The Mirror`s Alexandra Williams reports on an attack by al-Qa`ida "bandits" on the Kabul-to-Jalalabad road this week where they "hacked off the noses and ears of six men just for being clean-shaven". [... more]

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