Al-Qaida blamed for assassination attempt

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."