Fifteen killed in battle between rival Afghan factions

At least 15 soldiers and civilians died and more than 50 were wounded in a battle between rival factions in eastern Afghanistan yesterday.

Troops loyal to a renegade warlord clashed with government forces in Khost after a local radio station announced that the warlord, Padshah Khan Zadran, a former governor of Paktia province, had been arrested by American forces.

A street battle erupted between supporters of Mr Zadran and Hakim Taniwal, President Hamid Karzai's chosen governor. Witnesses said guns and grenade launchers were used.

Mr Taniwal's forces reportedly took back some portions of the city hall building seized by Mr Zadran after he was sacked by Mr Karzai in February.

Mr Zadran was once a strong ally of the United States in its hunt for the remnants of the Taliban and al-Qa'ida, but the US military cut ties with him after reports that he fed it false information on the whereabouts of fleeing militants in an attempt to kill off his own tribal rivals. Mr Zadran denied he had been arrested, saying: "I had talks with a US delegation who met me in an attempt to remove differences between Hamid Karzai and me."

Yesterday's fighting began after a bomb blast at a video shop in Khost, which injured at least 10 people. The bombing follows a spate of attacks on establishments once banned as un-Islamic under Taliban rule, fuelling fears that al-Qa'ida, former Taliban and disaffected Pashtuns are reorganising.

There have been similar attacks in the capital, Kabul, culminating in a car bomb explosion on Thursday that killed 26 people and wounded more than 160. An attempt on Mr Karzai's life was also made that day in Kandahar. Mr Karzai's American bodyguards killed the gunman, an Afghan security guard, and an Afghan teenager who deflected the gunman's aim to save the President.

The young man, Azeemullah Khaksar, has been hailed a hero and his father has been told by the Kabul government that he will be given 500 million afghanis £5,000 and a house as a reward. A mausoleum will be built in his honour.

"It's an honour for me that my son became a shield and saved Hamid Karzai from the terrorist's attack," Haji Raz Mohammed said at a memorial service at a Shia mosque.

Television pictures showed Mr Khaksar tackling the assassin before both were shot by Mr Karzai's bodyguards. Mr Khaksar's brother Hikmatullah said the young man had wanted to join Mr Karzai's security team. "He always envied them," said Hikmatullah. "He wanted to meet Karzai and tell him that he wanted to become his bodyguard. He has raised our heads high by sacrificing his life for the President. We are proud of him."

Mr Karzai, who flew to New York yesterday to meet President George Bush and address the United Nations General Assembly, has tried to dismiss recent attacks as isolated incidents, but Western diplomats fear they could form part of a wider strategy of terror by resurgent militants.

They also highlight the limitations of the Western-backed coalition government, which has little control outside Kabul.

Security has been stepped up in the capital for the first anniversary today of the assassination of the Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Masood.