An explosion in the northern Afghan city of Feyzabad was aimed at President Hamid Karzai's running mate, Afghan officials say. At least one person died in the explosion. However, Mr Karzai's vice-presidential candidate, Ahmed Zia Massood, was not injured. The incident came as Mr Karzai held his final rally in the capital, Kabul. The poll on Saturday will be Afghanistan's first election for head of state. No one has claimed responsibility for the latest attack although the Taleban and al-Qaeda have vowed to disrupt the presidential elections.
The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Kabul says the province of Badakhshan, where the blast took place, is not an area where there has been much militant activity. There is some confusion over the details of the attack. Some reports said Mr Massood was travelling from the airport to a rally site when his convoy was struck, possibly by a mine or roadside bomb. But interior ministry spokesman, Lutfullah Mashal said it took place at the rally itself in Feyzabad, the capital of Badakhshan, 300km north-east of Kabul. He said there had so far been no arrests. "The investigation is going on. It is the work of the enemies of peace and the elements who want to derail the election process," Mr Mashal said. Mutaleb Beg, a local police official, told the Associated Press agency four people were hurt in the blast. Reports said the former governor of the province, Sayed Ikramuddin, was one of those hurt. |
