In Afghanistan, the interim government's plan to end drug production by paying farmers not to grow poppies has gotten off to a violent start. 

A bomb exploded near the convoy of Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim, who was visiting the eastern city of Jalalabad as part of the poppy eradication program. Four people were killed and 18 wounded. The minister was not hurt. 

Mr. Fahim and senior military commanders were in Jalalabad partly to persuade farmers to accept the interim government's offer for not planting opium poppies from which heroin is derived. But the farmers say the compensation of $1,250 per hectare is not adequate. 

In the southeastern province of Helmand Sunday night, security forces involved in the program fired into a crowd of farmers protesting the plan. One farmer was killed and two were injured Friday in a similar clash. Helmand is Afghanistan's biggest poppy growing area. Farmers there say the crop is flowering and the harvest is imminent. 

Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AP.

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