KABUL (Reuters) - Gunmen opened fire on a vehicle belonging
to Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak on Saturday after
he had got out, and shortly afterwards a helicopter carrying
another top military official crash-landed.

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Security is tight in the run-up to the parliamentary and provincial elections, which have been denounced by Taliban insurgents

Why are the Taliban insurgents denouncing this? Kind of makes you wonder who is working for the good of the people?

F the Taliban

Hi,

Source:Associated Press

Gov't.: Shots Not Aimed at Afghan Minister

KABUL, Afghanistan - Soldiers who fired at the defense minister's convoy were not trying to assassinate him as initially believed, but were shooting at other troops they were angry with, a government spokesman said Sunday.

Shots were fired at the convoy Saturday after it had dropped Defense Minister Rahim Wardak and some other Cabinet members at Kabul's airport. One bullet hit a seat in Wardak's car where he had been sitting just moments earlier.

Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammed Saher Azimi initially said the shooting had been an attempt on the minister's life, but at a press conference Sunday he said an investigation had found that assessment was wrong.

"It was not an assassination attempt on the defense minister," Azimi said. "It was just a clash between soldiers."

He said the shooting started when some soldiers tried to get to their barracks inside the airport compound but were stopped by other troops who suspected they were impostors. An argument ensued and the two sides started shooting.

Nine soldiers have been arrested, Azimi said.

Nerves are already tense in the capital amid fears of militant violence ahead of landmark legislative elections on Sept. 18.

Peace
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