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Al-Qaida blamed for assassination attempt

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Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai speaks before the 62nd General Assembly at the United Nations on September 25, 2007 in New York City. (UPI Photo/Monika Graff) 
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Published: May 5, 2008 at 11:21 AM

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 5 (UPI) -- Afghan officials blamed al-Qaida-backed militants for an attempt to kill President Hamid Karzai, despite the arrests of two low-ranking government workers.

Karzai escaped unharmed after the assassination attempt during national celebrations April 27.

Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said officials arrested a government weapons repairman identified only as "Jawed" and a police nurse named "Zalmay" in connection with the assassination attempt.

Afghan intelligence officials said al-Qaida affiliates in Pakistan planned the attack, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said Monday.

Members of the Wolesi Jirga, the lower chamber of the Afghan Parliament, said, however, that the assassination attempt was part of a broader issue plaguing the government.

"I think Afghanistan's current administration has two kinds of enemies," Shukria Barakzai said. "One kind goes by the name 'Taliban' and clearly says that it is the enemy. The second is inside the system itself, representing old political parties with old aims."

Topics: Abdul Rahim Wardak, Hamid Karzai
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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