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Bomb attempt on Minister of Defense
A bomb exploded near a convoy carrying Afghanistan's defense minister Monday, killing four bystanders and injuring 16 others in what officials said was another attempt to destabilize the interim government. Defense Minister Mohammed Fahim was not hurt when the bomb exploded in front of his convoy in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, said Agha Jan, an aide to the region's top military commander, Hazrat Ali. Jan, who was in one of the vehicles, said the convoy itself was not hit and the victims were people lined up along the road to welcome Fahim. Mir Ajan, a Defense Ministry official, called it an assassination attempt and said the perpetrators "were trying to destabilize the country and disrupt the minister's plans" in Jalalabad. Fahim planned to meet with local commanders and tribal leaders to discuss, among other issues, a government program launched Monday to eradicate illegal poppy crops, offering farmers about $500 an acre to destroy the crop that produces opium, the raw material for heroin.
Doesn't look like they're succeeding in turning Fahim. He probably realizes how long he'd last under a return to power by the Talibs. It could also be that he hates their guts.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-04-08 |
