Kabul residents swarm newly opened cinema to see first film in public since 1996

By KATHY GANNON
Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan – Kabul residents swarmed the newly opened Bakhtar cinema on Monday to see the first film shown publicly in the capital since the Taliban seized power five years ago.

Hundreds of people were turned away from the packed theater, which was showing the popular Afghan film "Ascension." They jostled outside, blocking traffic. Finally, soldiers with rifles intervened, pushing the crowd away from the front gate.

The Taliban, which abandoned Kabul on Nov. 13, had banned most entertainment, including movies, TV and music, saying it was against Islam. Now, drums, guitars and high-pitched singing can now be heard pouring out of tinny radios on busy streets and even outside mosques.

And for those who want to see a film but can't get into the theater, there's video. A new rental store opened last week offering selections that include "Gladiator," "Police Story," "Rush Hour" and "Independence Day" – though it, too, has been packed with Afghans who'd kept their television sets surreptitiously under the Taliban.

AP-WS-11-19-01 1323EST