Reuters: Several killed in flag-waving protests against Taliban in Afghanistan

Flag-waving protesters took to several Afghan cities on Thursday and several people were killed when Taliban fighters fired on a crowd, a witness said, in the first popular opposition to the militants since they seized the capital.

"Our flag our identity," a crowd of men and some women waving black, red and green national flags shouted in Kabul, a video clip posted on social media showed.

One woman walked with a flag wrapped around her shoulders. Afghanistan celebrates its 1919 independence from British control on Aug. 19.

A Taliban spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

In Asadabad, capital of Kunar province, several people were killed during a rally but it was not clear if the casualties resulted from the firing or from a stampede that it triggered, witness Mohammed Salim said.

"Hundreds of people came out on the streets," Salim said. "At first I was scared and didn't want to go but when I saw one of my neighbours joined in I took out the flag I have at home."

"Several people were killed and injured in the stampede and firing by the Taliban."