Four Killed in Afghan Anti-U.S. Protests

Four people were killed on Friday when anti-U.S. protests turned violent in the western province of Herat, bringing the overall death toll during four days of demonstrations to at least 19, officials said.

Two died as demonstrators surged towards the U.S. consulate in Herat city while two more were killed in Adraskan district, provincial spokesman Moheedin Noori told Agence France Presse.

"In Herat city we have one civilian protester and one military person killed," he said.

A security official earlier told AFP that two demonstrators had been killed in a bid to storm the U.S. consulate.

"Some demonstrators tried to grab the cops' guns -- there was shooting and two of the demonstrators were killed," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Kabul said they were "aware that there are demonstrations in the vicinity of the consulate".

Friday's deaths bring to at least 19 the number of people killed during four days of violent anti-U.S. protests over the burning of Qurans at the U.S. airbase of Bagram, north of the capital.

In Kabul, security forces fired into the air to stop hundreds marching towards NATO headquarters, and at least one demonstrator was wounded as crowds shouted "death to America".