Afghan President survives assassination attempt

Updated: 20:29, Thursday, 5 September 2002

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has survived an assassination attempt by a "uniformed attacker" in Kandahar, according to the Foreign Minister, Abdullah Abdullah.

Hamid Karzai   Survived assassination attempt Hamid Karzai Survived assassination attempt
Kabul  Car bomb in Afghan capital Kabul Car bomb in Afghan capital

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has survived an assassination attempt by a "uniformed attacker" in Kandahar, according to the Foreign Minister.

Abdullah Abdullah said it could be the work of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

The gunman opened fire as President Karzai was travelling in a car to a shrine in the city. Kandahar governor Gul Agha was slightly injured in the incident.

The attacker was shot dead by a bodyguard, who was also killed in the incident.

In a separate attack, at least 15 people were killed when a car bomb went off in the centre of Kabul. A police spokesman said he believed Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network and the ousted Taliban were responsible.

The blast comes a week before the first anniversary of the 11 September attacks in the United States.

Residents said the explosion was the worst in Kabul since the Western-supported government of President Karzai came to power following the overthrow of the hardline Islamic Taliban last year.

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