Karzai escapes Taliban attack at military parade

Kabul, Apr 27: Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday escaped an automatic gunfire that broke out at a military ceremony in Kabul. The Taliban has claimed the responsibility for attacking Karzai when he was witnessing the parade that was being held to mark 16 years since the overthrow of the country's Soviet-backed rule.

“We had our people there who fired at Karzai," said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, adding, “We had place six personnel in the area. Three of our men have been killed." Karzai, foreign diplomats and other dignitaries were escorted from scene, surrounded by bodyguards, in one of four black Land Cruisers.

“Karzai, with all the Cabinet members and foreign diplomats who were on the main stage, are safe. They have been evacuated from the area. It is not an exact report yet, and I"m not sure, but I heard two Parliamentarians are wounded," said Defence Ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi.

Sirajudin, a police officer who was present when the incident took place, said that he saw two people firing with AK-47 assault rifles from a house towards the area where Karzai and other dignitaries were sitting.

ANI