Several people dead as US forces open fire at Kabul Airport

A number of people have been killed after US forces opened fire at Kabul airport on Monday morning, Novosti news agency reported.

According to local media, these people may have been killed as a result of being trampled as thousands of people stormed the runway in sheer panic tried to board a plane to leave the country.

Reuters quoted a US official as saying that US forces at Kabul airport had to fire in the air to prevent Afghans from running to the runway to board military aircraft.

The official explained that it was difficult to control the crowd and that the shooting in the air was only to prevent chaos.

Agence France-Presse reported earlier, citing an eyewitness, that the US military fired warning shots to push crowds back from the runway.

E.M