KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – Authorities locked down Afghanistan’s capital Monday as tens of thousands of members of an ethnic minority group marched through the streets to protest the proposed route of a power line.
By early morning, members of the Hazara minority had filled streets leading into central Kabul. But their path to the presidential palace, their intended destination, was blocked armed police and stacked shipping containers, closing off Kabul’s commercial center to all vehicle and foot traffic.
Most of the city’s shops were shuttered and armed police units had taken up positions around the city. Authorities told protest organizers that the march would be confined to a specific route that would not take them near the presidential palace. A November demonstration by Hazaras turned violent.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul closed its consular section and warned Americans to limit their movement within Kabul.
“Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence,” it said in an emergency message.