Taliban turban bomber kills Rabbani

Afghan Police said that a Taliban suicide bomber wearing explosives in a turban on Tuesday assassinated former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was leading government peace efforts. "Two men were negotiating with Rabbani on behalf of the Taliban this evening one of them had hid explosives in his turban," said Kabul criminal investigations chief Mohammad Zaher.

"He approached Rabbani and detonated his explosives. Rabbani was martyred and four others including Massom Stanikzai (his deputy) were injured."

Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is cutting short his visit to the United States following the killing of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani who was leading Taliban peace efforts, his spokesman said.

"The president was made aware of this incident and he is cancelling the rest of his trip to the US and is coming back to the country," his spokesman Hamid Elmi told AFP. AFP