An Afghan city falls to anti-government foreces:

Fighters loyal to one of Afghanistan's most powerful warlords have seized a major northern city from pro-government forces, raising fears that the country is sliding into civil war.

The forces of General Abdul Rashid Dostum, a special adviser to President Hamid Karzai, who is known for crushing his prisoners under tanks, invaded the northern province of Faryab on Wednesday, according to officials.

The provincial capital, Maimana, fell yesterday after Gen Dostum's forces attacked it, officials said....

Last month there were bloody battles in the western city of Herat - previously considered the safest city in Afghanistan - between pro-government fighters and militiamen loyal to the city's warlord governor, Ismail Khan. Mr Khan's men triumphed, driving Mr Karzai's troops from the city and leaving scores of men dead....

"First in Herat, and now in the north, we're seeing war lords taking on the central government and succeeding," said Samina Ahmed of the International Crisis Group....

"This violence has far-reaching consequences, it's very worrying," Ms Ahmed said. "In the south, the insurrection is being run by poor individuals who have not profited in the slightest from the war two years ago.

"Now we're seeing powerful commanders also confronting the government. This is a far more dangerous development than anything we've seen in the south."...

--Guardian

(Thanks to Rational Enquirer for the link.)