Karzai's running mate attacked

A controversial running mate of President Hamid Karzai escaped unscathed after a gun and rocket attack hit his convoy Sunday in northern Afghanistan, weeks ahead of key elections, officials said.

Dozens of vehicles accompanying vice-presidential candidate Mohammed Qasim Fahim were travelling in northern Kunduz province - which has seen soaring Taliban-linked attacks - when an unknown number of gunmen ambushed the convoy.

Karzai's campaign office labelled the attack an assassination attempt, and said that the campaign cameraman was injured as a hail of bullets hit the motorcade. Security and government officials said no one was hurt. The attack comes ahead of Afghanistan's second-ever presidential elections on August 20.

Kabul, Sunday AFP