Mass Poisoning Feared Among Afghan Schoolgirls

CHARIKAR, Afghanistan - Doctors are investigating whether dozens of students have been poisoned at a high school in northern Afghanistan after 61 girls went to the hospital complaining of sudden illness.

The mass hospitalization comes about two weeks after a similar incident in Parwan, where dozens of girls were hospitalized after being sickened by what Afghan officials said were strong fumes or a possible poison gas cloud.

Though it was unclear if Monday's incident was the result of an attack, militants in the south have previously assaulted schoolgirls by spraying acid in their faces and burned down schools as a protest against the government.

A number of students interviewed at the hospital complained of a strong sweet smell, which gave them headaches and made some girls wobbly before they passed out.