Afghan President hopeful escaped deadly attack

Kabul: Afghan presidential front-runner Abdullah Abdullah escaped an assassination attempt on Friday when two blasts hit his campaign motorcade in Kabul, killing at least six people just ahead of a hotly contested run-off election.

It was the second attack targeting Abdullah during Afghanistan’s fractious election season, which has seen an uptick in violence with Taliban militants threatening to disrupt the polls.

Mr Abdullah said he was unhurt in Friday’s blasts but lost three of his campaign colleagues who were among six civilians killed, according to the interior ministry.

“Based on initial police information, six people were killed and 22 others were wounded in the attack,” the ministry said.