Afghanistan

Karzai safe after attack in Kabul

Article published on the 2008-04-27 Latest update 2008-04-28 14:43 TU

Military personnel just after the attack
(Photo: Reuters)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai escaped unharmed Sunday after militants attacked a high-profile military parade with rockets and gunfire, killing two people and wounding a dozen including legislators. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, but denied it was an assassination attempt on Karzai.

Bullets struck into the back of a stage where the president and Afghan leader were seated to review the country's most important annual military parade. 

The leader of a minority tribe who had been sitting on the stage was killed in the attack and about a dozen other Afghans were wounded. A ten-year-old boy living in the area was also killed, apparently in return fire, officials said.

Karzai has survived several assassination attempts; in 2002 a guard opened fire on his vehicle in the southern city of Kandahar.

In 2004, two rockets were fired at his helicopter, but missed.

Tight security was in place for Afghanistan's largest annual parade, which was celebrating 16 years since the fall of the last communist government.

Shortly after the incident, which was broadcast live on television, the president appeared on camera to reassure the public and announce that some of the attackers had already been caught.

"Fortunately Afghan security forces quickly surrounded them. Some of them were captured", Karzai said. "Everything is calm, rest assured."

The attack erupted after Karzai had taken the stage following an inspection of troops and as a 21-gun salute was ringing out across the city.