Different Facts for Different Folks.

There is a breaking story (at 1:46 am eastern) about a traffic accident with some shooting in Kabul, Afghanistan. Here are the initial ledes from three different wire services. You'll notice that the French news agency (AFP) is quickest to leap to judgment, accusing the Americans of shooting four civilians to death.

(AP) -- U.S. and Afghan security forces fired on protesters in the Afghan capital after a riot erupted Monday because of a deadly traffic accident involving U.S. troops, and at least four people were killed, police and witnesses said. (AFP) - US troops shot dead at least four people Monday when they opened fire on a crowd of Afghans demonstrating after an accident involving a coalition military vehicle, an AFP photographer said. (Reuters) - Shooting erupted in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday and some people were killed and wounded, a security official said, during a protest by angry residents after a U.S. military convoy was involved in a traffic accident.

From that mish-mash, I have to write a story that bears some resemblance to the truth and I have 10 minutes to do it. OK, made my deadline with five minutes to spare. Here's the story I wrote:

Officials in Afghanistan say U.S. and Afghan security forces fired on a mob in the capital of Kabul after a traffic accident involving a coalition vehicle sparked a riot. A security official said at least four people were killed and about nine wounded in the incident today (Monday) in the north of the city. Witnesses say dozens of people took to the streets after a vehicle in a U.S. military convoy was involved in a traffic accident. They say protesters set two police vehicles on fire. It is unclear whether American troops or Afghan police opened fire on the mob. A U.S. military spokeswoman (Lieutenant Tamara Lawrence) confirmed there had been an accident but said she had no details of the incident.

What happens now is, I just wait for more details to come in and tweak my story as the evening wears on. You'll notice that I pinned everything on "officials" and "witnesses." If any facts are incorrect (and I'm sure there are) it will be the officials and witnesses who were wrong, not I. I'll update this post as soon as things gel.

Update: AT 5 am eastern, a riot is spreading through Kabul with gunshots heard throughout the city (natch). AFP is still saying Americans shot four people. AP is saying three were killed in the accident and one person was shot -- don't know by whom.

Update: After more than 24 hours, AFP finally backed off their story that U.S. troops killed civilians.

The US-led coalition says the troops fired over the crowd but witnesses said their bullets killed at least four people although this was not confirmed. Afghan police also opened fire at the scene.

Talk about a back-handed correction.