HERAT, Afghanistan, Aug 14 (AFP) - More than 20 people were killed in fighting between rival warlords in western Afghanistan Saturday, highlighting the fragile security situation weeks ahead of landmark presidential elections.
About 21 militiamen were killed in ongoing fighting between two rival commanders for control of districts surrounding Herat, the largest and most prosperous city in western Afghanistan, a spokesman for one of the factions told AFP.
"There were some military movements in Shindand district and Chisti district and roughly 21 people were killed on both sides," said Qari Massoon, spokesman for provincial governor Ismael Khan.
Troops loyal to Khan, who is the most powerful military strongman in western Afghanistan, clashed with forces under the command of opponent Amanullah Khan.
The battle follows skirmishes between local militia and government forces in neighbouring Ghor province last month, in which three US soldiers working on disarming the militias were injured.
Fighting began at 2:00 am (2130 GMT) in Shindand district and Amanullah's troops seized Shindand district and fighting was continuing for control of the airstrip, commanders loyal to Ismael Khan told AFP.
Among those killed were "Herat garrison commander Saifullah and General Zakim Khan of the border brigade who supported Ismael Khan," Amanullah Khan told AFP.
He said his forces had taken control of Shindand and pushed Ismael Khan's fighters into neighbouring Adraskan district.
"We have captured Shindand totally from Khan's forces and now the fighting is going on in Adraskan district," he said.
Shindand, about 660 kilometres (412 miles) west of the capital Kabul, is a troubled district that has been controlled both by forces loyal to Ismael Khan, an ethnic Tajik, and Amanullah Khan, a Pashtun.
The factions have clashed regularly in the past two years.
"Ismael Khan's forces attacked Amanullah's posts and that is when the fighting started," Wakeel Daulat Sarwari told AFP.
However, the government said Afghan army forces would come out in support of Ismael Khan if the fighting continued.
"Any action which would be taken would be in support of Ismael Khan," a senior defence department official told AFP.
The official said Khan's troops were considered to be a government force, defending themselves against Ahmanullah's militias.
President Hamid Karzai's office issued a statement condemning the fighting as an "attempt to disrupt security ahead of the elections." It said "serious measures will be taken against the latest military operations".
"Afghans are preparing for the election process, which is making positive progress and this is the government's duty to prevent any kind of threats to the process," the statement said.
Factional fighting adds to the many security problems facing Afghanistan, which is also plagued by attacks from members of the ousted Taliban regime and its allies.
The Taliban have vowed to disrupt the presidential elections due in October. Parliamentary elections have been pushed back to April next year mainly due to security problems.