Gunfiring and explosions rocked a celebration gathering attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Afghan capital Kabul Sunday morning, causing casualties, and Karzai left the scene safe.
Karzai in a short speech just released on national television said the enemies wanted to "disrupt the ceremony of 16th anniversary of the nation but they failed."
The president further said the law enforcing agencies have arrested "some suspects" in the regard and "all the rest is OK, and everything is on the track."
The unexpected firing and blast at the function being held with presence of Karzai and many top-rank officials had forced all the notables to move out of the scene.
A Xinhua reporter on the spot saw Karzai under the protection of his guards left the scene safe and he added he saw blood of soldiers spattered on the spot.
Local TV reported two parliamentarians were among the injured and it was unclear how many casualties were inflicted in the sudden attacks.
This April 27 ceremony marks the 16th anniversary of Mujahiddin victory against the former Soviet Union-backed Najibullah communist regime in Afghanistan, which collapsed in April 1992.
Zabihullah Mujahed, a Taliban spokesman, told Xinhua via phone from an unknown location, claiming responsibility for the incident. He said their purpose was to disrupt the ceremony for which the government began to beef up security two months ago.
"And we disrupted it in just few minutes," Mujahed said, "And we can target any target whenever we want."
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2008)
