Cousin of Karzai killed in suicide bombing

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 29 (UPI) -- A cousin of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai was killed by a suicide bomber, officials reported.

Hashmat Karzai, a security company chief and campaign manager for Ashraf Ghani -- one of two people seeking election as president -- greeted a well-wisher at his home in Kandahar, Afghanistan, during the post-Radaman Eid celebration when the visitor blew himself up with explosives.

Hashmat Karzai was regarded as an influential power broker in southern Afghanistan and participant in a long-running Karzai family feud. He was implicated by some family members in the death of a cousin, and his father was killed by another family member 25 years ago.

Hamid Karzai's brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, was killed in 2011 in an attack at his home, for which the Afghan Taliban took responsibility.

There has been no claim of responsibility as yet for the death of Hashmat Karzai.