KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - Friday was something of a "driver's liberation day" in this noisy, exhaust-choked city, as crews began digging up speed bumps that slowed traffic to a crawl during the time of the Taliban.

Long stretches of the Herat Bazaar and Kabul Shah thoroughfares were suddenly flat and inviting to speeding motorists, where once the Taliban had built up bumps in the pavement to control the traffic of motorized rickshaws, lumbering trucks, bicycles and overpowered sport utility vehicles.

Although many Kandaharis appreciated the Taliban's law-and-order government, the speed bumps were highly unpopular.

During their five-year rule, the Islamic radical Taliban also sought to control the population by banning music, movies, television and girls' education, among other things.

Friday's unannounced pavement project came three months after the Taliban were toppled from power in a U.S.-led military campaign.

News Resources Message Boards: Post/Read Msgs