Bomber targets Afghan official

A Kabul police spokesman said on Saturday that the bomber had detonated his explosive-laden vehicle alongside the car of Mohammed Masoom Stanikzai.

Stanikzai, who also works as an adviser to departing President Hamid Karzai, was said to have escaped unharmed because the vehicle was armored.

One civilian was killed and several others were injured in the blast, which took place early in the morning as the streets remained relatively empty. The incident was said to be under investigation by police.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility, although similar attacks targeting government officials have been carried out in the past by the Taliban.

Election protests planned

The explosion happened ahead of a string of protests across the capital in support of a decision by the presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah to withdraw from the race. Former Foreign Minister Abdullah alleges that a mass fraud is being carried out and has asked for the counting of votes to be suspended and for the United Nations to intervene.

Abdullah, who has said he refuses to recognize any results released by Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, is running against former Finance Minister Aashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. His withdrawal from the election represents a setback to hopes of a peaceful transfer of power from Karzai.

The president, who has led Afghanistan since the US-led invasion of the country and overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, is barred from standing for a third term.

rc/mkg (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)