MAIMANA, May 17, (Pajhwok Afghan News) -- Provincial government officials in northern Fariyab are attempting to calm down a dispute between two feuding warlords in Shirin Tagab district.

At least one person was killed and several others wounded in the clash between supporters of Commander Abdul Malek when he returned to the district where Gen. Dostum has a loyal following.

The clash erupted after Gul Mohammad Pahlawan, the brother of Commander Malek, returned home to a Dostum stronghold. Pahlawan claimed that Dostum's men broke into his house last night in Faizabad town of Shirin Tagab district and killed one person and wounded several others.

Some local residents claim Pahlawan’s men were campaigning in favor of Commander Abdul Malek who leads Afghanistan Freedom party in a region when Dostum's armed men attacked Malek campaigners despite threats.

However, a spokesman for Junbish-e-Milli a party formerly led by Dostum, told Pajhwok Dostum's men were not involved in the kafuffle but local people against Malek carried out the attacks.

Eyewitnesses said foreign NGOs and hundreds of local shops were closed after the tension rose in Faizabad town and both feuding sides remained alert. Commander Malek, in an interview with Pajhwok last week, accused Dostum of preventing members of his party traveling to Faryab on the election campaign.

Dostum resigned as the leader of the Junbish-e-Milli party which is reported to have had heavy military backing, though some of its units are believed to be disarmed under the national disarmament program. Dostum, the leader of the party led it for over a decade.

Faizullah Zaki, a spokesman for the Junbish-e-Milli party, said his people were not involved in the feud against Malek but they were local residents who opposed his men's return. He added all armed men related to the party had been disarmed.

The governor of Fariyab says he has been assigned by the interior ministry to investigate the incident and calm down the tension with the cooperation of 30 local elders. "But it still depends on the wisdom of the engaged sides," said Governor Abdul Latif Ibrahimi.

Some local residents reacted angrily to Pahlawan's return and warned of serious consequences if he did not leave the province.

Noor Mohammad, 55, from Koh-e-Sayad village of the district told Pajhwok government officials must oust Gul Mohammad Pahlawan from the region otherwise there will be blood shed. But Pahlawan said: "The people beckoned me to come and I won’t leave my region as long as the people ask me to stay."

Aid agencies operating in the region are scared and feel the unrest created by these two powerful leaders. Asadullah, a guardman with CHA in Faizabad town said all CHA workers and ACTED workers have shut down their offices.