Helmand governor survives explosion

LASHKAR GAH (PAN employees in the southwest province of Kandahar, an official said on Wednesday.

Mangal was on his way to the funeral of President Hamid Karzai’s brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, in Kandahar province Wednesday morning when a mine explosion hit his car in the Maiwand district, according to Mangal’s spokesman Daud Ahmadi.

Ahmad Wali Karzai was killed by one of his body guards in his home on Tuesday.

Ahmadi, the spokesman, said that Mangal arrived in Kandahar and attended Wali Karzai’s funeral. The funeral was held in Wali Karzai’s home village of Dand. Hamid Karzai also attended.

No one has yet taken responsibility for the attack.

Elsewhere in Helmand, NDS officials told Pajhwok Afghan News that one child was killed and two others injured in a Wednesday morning mine explosion in the Ainak region of the Nawa district of southwest Helmand province.

The source added that the children were between two and eight years of age, but was unable to give details on the condition of those injured.  

No one has claimed responsibility for this attack, but Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said that Wednesday morning, a mine blast hit a tank belonging to foreign forces in the Naseeran village of Nawa district, injuring or killing all eight soldiers onboard.

ISAF confirmed the explosion but rejected reports of causalities.

 oh/kg