Afghan warlord survives suicide bombing

SHEBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up in northern Afghanistan during an assassination attempt on Afghan warlord Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum.

The attack took place Thursday morning in the city of Sheberghan. Dostum was unharmed, while 20 spectators were injured, including two of his bodyguards. Six of the injured received critical wounds, the BBC reported.

As Dostum left a mosque after prayer, he was approached by a man dressed as a beggar. The man blew himself up after being pushed aside by Dostum's bodyguards.

According to Afghan News, the motive for the attack was not clear. But it is known that Dostum has accumulated many enemies.

The BBC reported that the Taliban said one of its fighters had carried out the attack.

Dostum's fighters are accused of leaving hundreds of Taliban fighters to perish inside sealed steel containers after their defeat and capture. And his private army still holds Taliban fighters in his private jails.

Dostum's private army is now being disarmed and demobilized, in accordance with President Hamid Karzai's disarmament plan. The plan was designed to weaken the power of warlords who have questioned the authority of a central government.