Local authorities in a bid to restore law and order in violence-hit western city of Herat Province in Afghanistan imposed night curfew and restriction on demonstration Sunday, local television reported.  

"A curfew went into effect from 9 PM local time and all the people of Herat City are requested to respect it," the provincial television in its evening broadcast said. But it did not say how long the curfew would continue.

"No one will be allowed from tomorrow to disturb law and order and so all assemblies or gatherings have been banned until further notice," the local television further noted.

It also urged local government employees to return to their offices from Monday and the national army and police have been tasked to maintain law and order in the city.

Herat has been the scene of unexpected violence since last evening in which four people have been killed and 50 others wounded.

"Four people have been killed and 50 others injured," a doctor at Herat main hospital Mohammad Shib told Xinhua.

The violent began after President Hamid Karzai replaced Governor Ismael Khan and appointed him as minister for mines and industries in Kabul.

His supporters termed the move as a trick to reduce Khan's authority and began coming out to the streets to show their opposition.

The angry demonstrators beside chanting slogans against Karzai and US troops set on fire the offices of UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and its sister agencies in the city.

New governor Syed Mohammad Khirkhah who assumed office in the afternoon asked people to exercise restrain and help authorities in restoring law and order. His predecessor, however, rejected the offer for new post in the central government.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2004)