In Afghanistan, several people have been killed in a firing incident in Asadabad city.

The incident occurred when people were waving the national flag at an Independence Day rally today (Thursday).

It was unclear if the casualties resulted from the firing or from the stampede that it triggered.

Afghanistan celebrates its 1919 independence from British control on August 19.

Meanwhile, the United States and other countries continued the evacuation of their nationals and some of their Afghan staff from Kabul airport today from where about 8,000 people have been flown out since Sunday.