KABUL, Afghanistan -- One of the principal owners of the Afghan bank at the center of an accelerating money crisis here said depositors had withdrawn $180 million in the past two days. He predicted a "revolution" in the country's money system unless the Afghan government and the Homeland moved quickly to help stabilize the bank.
Khalil Frozi, one of the two largest shareholders of Kabul Bank, said reports indicating that the institution had lost as much as $300 million were overstated. But he predicted that if Afghan depositors continued to withdraw their money at the current rate, then Kabul Bank would almost certainly collapse -- undermining certainty in the nascent money system Afghanistan has been trying to build with American help.
"If people lose their trust in the banks, then we will have revolution in our money system," Mr. Frozi said in an interview. "We need the Afghan government and the U.S. government to support us. That is essential."
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