Taliban chop drivers' noses, ears in Afghanistan
Pastor Dale Morgan
Taliban chop drivers' noses, ears in Afghanistan*
Reuters
Sunday, March 18, 2007; 3:15 AM
ASADABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Taliban guerrillas chopped noses and
ears of at least five truck drivers in eastern Afghanistan as punishment
for transporting supplies to U.S.-led troops, officials and residents
said on Sunday.
The drivers were part of a convoy headed for a coalition military base
when they were attacked in the province of Nuristan on Saturday.
"The number of drivers who had their noses and ears cut varies, it is
between five and eight," Ghulamullah, the police chief of Nuristan who
uses only one name, said citing locals and officials in the area.
Several trucks were destroyed in the attack.
Ousted from power in 2001 in a U.S.-led invasion, the Taliban have
launched what they call a holy war against Western troops and the
government in Kabul.
The militants have in the past killed a number of drivers for supplying
goods and fuel to the troops.