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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fifteen executed in Afghanistan | Fifteen executed in Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Fifteen people in Afghanistan have been put to death for crimes including murder, government officials say. | Fifteen people in Afghanistan have been put to death for crimes including murder, government officials say. |
| They say that the firing squad deaths are the second confirmed executions since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. | They say that the firing squad deaths are the second confirmed executions since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. |
| Officials say that the 15 were shot at Afghanistan's largest prison Pul-e-Charkhi. The last such executions were in April 2004. | Officials say that the 15 were shot at Afghanistan's largest prison Pul-e-Charkhi. The last such executions were in April 2004. |
| Pul-e-Charkhi is a huge prison complex built in the 1970s on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul. | Pul-e-Charkhi is a huge prison complex built in the 1970s on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul. |
| Commonplace | Commonplace |
| Correspondents say the vast and run-down jail is notorious for the disappearance and torture of thousands of Afghans during the country's communist era. | Correspondents say the vast and run-down jail is notorious for the disappearance and torture of thousands of Afghans during the country's communist era. |
| Officials say that the executions took place on Sunday evening according to Afghan law, which stipulates that condemned prisoners should be shot. | Officials say that the executions took place on Sunday evening according to Afghan law, which stipulates that condemned prisoners should be shot. |
| The jail is one of the most heavily guarded in Afghanistan | The jail is one of the most heavily guarded in Afghanistan |
| Correspondents say that that public executions were commonplace during the Taleban's rule, where many people were put to death at the war-shattered Kabul stadium. | Correspondents say that that public executions were commonplace during the Taleban's rule, where many people were put to death at the war-shattered Kabul stadium. |
| The last person to be executed - in April 2004 - was military commander Abdullah Shah, who was found guilty of a series of murders. | The last person to be executed - in April 2004 - was military commander Abdullah Shah, who was found guilty of a series of murders. |
| Analysts say that President Karzai may have authorised the latest executions because he wants to send out a message ahead of elections next year that he is tough on crime. | Analysts say that President Karzai may have authorised the latest executions because he wants to send out a message ahead of elections next year that he is tough on crime. |
| Around 300 people are currently on death row for crimes such as murder, rape and armed robbery. | Around 300 people are currently on death row for crimes such as murder, rape and armed robbery. |
| Others have been condemned for kidnapping and "political crimes" such as bombings and anti-government activities. | Others have been condemned for kidnapping and "political crimes" such as bombings and anti-government activities. |
| The Pajhwok Afghan News agency has reported that some of those who were shot on Sunday were "low-level militants", but it did not state whether or not they were linked to the Taleban. | The Pajhwok Afghan News agency has reported that some of those who were shot on Sunday were "low-level militants", but it did not state whether or not they were linked to the Taleban. |