Fire destroys hundreds of shops at Kabul marketDecember 23, 2012 - 14:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least six hundred shops have been destroyed by a fire which swept through a market in the Afghan capital, Kabul, BBC News reported. No one was injured in the blaze but the fire destroyed much of the goods on sale and forced traders to flee. Kabul's main money exchange, which is located within the market, was evacuated before the fire reached it. The blaze was tackled by Afghan firefighters and police, as well as NATO forces. The market is located less than a kilometer from the presidential office and several key Afghan ministries and is normally crowded during the day. As the fire approached the money market, traders moved hundreds of thousands of dollars to safety in waiting police vans. Shopkeepers also removed their stocks of gold from the nearby gold market. There was no indication the fire had been caused by a bomb attack. Kabul's police chief said the watchman who had been guarding the market had disappeared. Gen Ayub Salangi said his officers were looking for the man. The emergency services say it is possible the fire may reignite, and so they are keeping a close watch. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |