Rival Factions Seize Civilians on Kabul Streets

KABUL, Afghanistan —  Warring Sunni and Shiite Muslim guerrilla factions seized hundreds of civilians at gunpoint in Kabul on Wednesday, with Afghanistan’s new coalition government apparently powerless to stop them.

Witnesses said the prisoners were singled out on the basis of ethnic background at guerrilla checkpoints and taken to makeshift detention centers in the city.

Fighters of the Sunni Muslim and mainly ethnic Pushtun Ittehad-i-Islami group took away ethnic Hazaras, who are Shiite Muslims; the rival Hezb-i-Wahdat group seized Pushtuns.

Witnesses said some detainees were beaten with sticks as they were led away.

The two guerrilla groups fought pitched battles in Kabul’s western suburbs Tuesday, leaving several people dead and at least 70 injured, including many civilians.