The demonstration in Kabul, which numbered around 100 people, prominently featured the red, black and green Afghan national flag, increasingly a sign of protest against the Taliban, who have their own white flag featuring the Shahada, an Islamic oath. The protesters were chanting "long live Afghanistan" and "our flag, our pride." There were also reports of further protests in other Afghan cities. According to videos posted on social media, some of the demonstrations ended with Taliban gunfire and, in the city of Khost, a curfew was imposed, according to local journalists. Numerous car thefts and burglaries have been reported in Kabul since the Taliban took power. Eyewitnesses told dpa on Thursday that men posing as Taliban members gained access to houses and also seized cars and motorbikes. In recent days, the Taliban have repeatedly published telephone numbers for citizens to call in case of security incidents. Publicly, the Islamists have declared several times that no Taliban fighter will enter private homes and requisition vehicles. Chaos continued to reign around the airport in Kabul on Thursday as countries seek to evacuate citizens and local staff. Two locals employed by international organizations told dpa that roads to the airport were clogged and in part impassable, and that US troops would not let them enter the building. CNN journalist Clarissa Ward, one of a handful of foreign journalists still in Kabul, called the situation "absolutely chaotic". According to her, people threw babies over the airport fence to get them to safety. The Taliban, she said, were using whips and guns to hold people back. As the international community continued to look on in shock at the events in Afghanistan, the Italian government, which currently holds the presidency of the G20, has proposed an emergency summit of the world's 20 largest economies to discuss the situation. Meanwhile China has voiced its hopes for a more moderate Taliban leadership in Afghanistan. Foreign Office spokesperson Hua Chunying referred to recent statements made by the militant Islamist group, suggesting their intension to form an open and inclusive government, respect women's rights to work and freedom of expression. "We hope the Taliban will make good on these positive statements and build unity among political parties and ethnic groups through dialogue and consultation," she said. "We hope they will pursue moderate, prudent domestic and foreign policies, renounce terrorism and criminal acts, and ensure a smooth transition." China and Russia are likely to recognize the Taliban, thereby shifting the geopolitical balance of power in Afghanistan, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said Thursday. "What we cannot do is to let the Chinese and Russians take control of the situation," Borrell told EU lawmakers in Brussels, stressing that that the west would have to step up diplomatic efforts once its withdrawal was complete. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday that it requires at least another 700 million euros (818 million dollars) to carry out its work for the rest of the year. The UN estimates that some 3.5 million people have been displaced in Afghanistan, including 550,000 since the beginning of this year alone. It also warned that drought and a poor wheat harvest could lead to severe food shortages in the country.