Bomb attack reported next to Afghan presidential candidate’s homeMarch 25, 2014 - 13:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Suicide bombers attacked a building next to the house of Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani and engaged in a gun battle with security guards protecting his home, officials said, according to Reuters. More than an hour after the initial explosions, gunfire could still be heard in the area, which had been cordoned off by police, a Reuters cameraman at the scene said. Ghani, a former World Bank official, was not at home at the time of the attack. The Afghan capital is on high alert ahead of an April 5 presidential election which Taliban insurgents have threatened to derail through a campaign of bombings and assassinations. The election is designed to mark the country's first democratic transfer of power. President Hamid Karzai is barred from running for another term after 12 years in power but is widely expected to retain his influence after the vote. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Initially police said militants had attacked Ghani's house itself but later Ghani's campaign aide said the assault started from an adjacent building housing a provincial election office. "The attack was on an election office next to Dr Ashraf Ghani's house. His house was also hit by the attackers. He is not at home but his family is there," said the aide. The interior ministry said there were two explosions followed by gunfire. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Ghani, in Twitter post sent after the attack, said: "Just arrived at Gardez rally, a huge crowd of tens of thousands." Gardez is in a volatile area south of Kabul. The Taliban said in a statement their suicide bombers had entered the adjacent building and blew themselves up. "A number of suicide bombers attacked an important election center at the heart of Kabul," the statement said. "The attack started with a very heavy explosion and then a number of people entered with heavy and light weapons." Separately on Tuesday, March 25 three suicide bombers entered a branch of Kabulbank, one of Afghanistan's biggest banks, in eastern Kunar province killing at least three security guards and wounding two bank workers, police said. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |