...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
in central Parwan province on Tuesday, a health official said.
"Women and children are among them and most of the victims seems to be the civilians. Ambulances are still operating, and the number of casualties may rise," said Dr Abdul Qasim Sangin, head of the provincial hospital.
Dr Sangin at the Charakar hospital in northern Parwan province said another 31 people were maimed in the attack.
The president’s campaign front man Hamed Aziz said that Ghani was there but that he was safe and unharmed. Aziz said he would provide more details later.
Wahida Shahkar, spokeswoman for the provincial governor in Parwan, said the earth-shattering kaboom happened while the rally was underway on Tuesday, at the entrance to the venue.
No one grabbed credit for the attack, which comes as the country heads into presidential elections later this month despite relentless violence plaguing Afghanistan.
The Taliban
...Arabic for students...
have warned Afghans not to vote and said they would target polling stations and election campaigns.
| Tolo News adds: |
The attack took place at 11:40 a.m. in the city of Charikar after a suicide bomber on a motorbike detonated his explosives where dozens of people were entering the meeting place, local officials said.
“The bodies of the deceased have been transferred to hospitals,” said Qasim Sangin, head of Parwan’s provincial hospital.
“A number of the wounded people are not in a stable condition,” Sangin said, adding that the identities of many remained unknown. “We are busy with treatment.”
In the meantime, local police reported that only eight people were killed in the attack and 10 were wounded.
Reporters covering the campaign rally said the attack happened just after Ghani begin his speech, and that the president continued speaking despite the blast. Hundreds of supporters were in attendance.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming they were targeting security forces at the campaign rally.
| Khaama Press agrees with Tolo News about numbers, but adds: |
Wahida Shakar, a spokesperson for provincial government had earlier said a magnetic bomb went off close to the election rally compound.