Deaths as vice-president targeted

A BOMBING in the Afghan capital targeted the convoy of the country’s first vice-president, killing 10 people and wounding more than a dozen others, including several bodyguards, the Interior Ministry has said.

No-one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing and the Taliban quickly denied they were behind the attack in Kabul.

First vice-president Amrullah Saleh suffered minor burns in the attack.

Mr Saleh, who is also Afghanistan’s former intelligence chief, said in his first television appearance immediately after the attack that he was fine and had suffered only slight burns.

He appeared in the TV footage with bandages on one hand.

“Me and my younger son who was also with me are fine,” Mr Saleh said.

“I have slight burns on my face and hand from the wave of the blast. I don’t have exact details right now, but I apologise to those who suffered casualties and those who lost their property in the attack.”

His spokesman, Razwan Murad, called the attack a “vicious terrorist attempt”.