Heart, Afghanistan: Angry Afghans shouted "death to America" and hurled stones at government offices on Thursday to protest against the killing of civilians in US-led air strikes, witnesses said.
Shots were also fired into the air during the protest, although it was not immediately clear by whom, while one demonstrator said the protest in the western town of Farah was gaining strength and threatened to turn violent.
US military and Afghan teams pressed an investigation on Thursday into how many civilians and insurgents were killed in fighting and air strikes earlier this week in what appeared to be one the deadliest incidents in eight years.
Afghan police said more than 100 people were dead, most of them civilians. One Afghan official said he had seen the bodies of 20 children.
"The protest is getting bigger and bigger," a demonstrator who gave his name only as Abdullah told AFP. "People are really angry and they shout 'death to America, death to the invaders.'
"They are hurling stones at government buildings and there is some gun fire in the air -- at this stage we don't know by who."
Haji Nangyalai, 42, said the protest was to "show our anger at the crimes committed by the American forces. They have killed our innocent people carelessly, that is why we are protesting."