Hundreds of disabled Afghan war veterans have rallied in the capital, Kabul, demanding increased pensions.

We live like beggars Mohammed Abdullah, Disabled war veteran

About 300 protesters, many missing arms or legs, gathered outside the health ministry but police prevented them marching to the presidential palace.

The veterans, who said they had not been paid their pensions of 100 Afghanis ($2) for several months, also accused the government of misusing international aid donations.

It is believed that up to 80,000 Afghans became disabled during the Soviet occupation from 1979 to 1989 and the civil war that followed Moscow's withdrawal.

Many were maimed by landmines, huge numbers of which are scattered throughout the country.

'Sacrifice and suffering'

This was the second time in six weeks that war veterans have taken to the streets.

"We're here demanding our rights," said Mohammad Akbar, who lost his right leg from the knee down, quoted by the Associated Press news agency.

The veterans demanded subsidised housing and jobs

"We're not terrorists, we're sons of the nation who sacrificed and suffered."

The protesters said they were unable to survive on the meagre state stipends.

"It's nothing, we have to spend twice the stipend we get on transport," protester Gull Baba told the AFP news agency.

The veterans also said the new government of President Hamid Karzai must provide subsidised housing, coupons for cheap food, and jobs.

'No opportunity'

Mohammed Abdullah, a graduate of the former government military academy, told Associated Press that many veterans could be useful office workers despite their disabilities.

"I'm an educated man. I'm not illiterate. Yet they won't give us the opportunity to make a decent life, so we live like beggars," said the married father of six.

Some of the protesters accused the government of misusing international aid saying that donated items had been seen for sale in city shops.

The government has denied the accusations, saying it was doing all it could to meet the veterans' demands.

The veterans decided to end their protest after President Karzai agreed to meet their leader to discuss the issue.