Taliban Claims Attack On Afghan Presidential Candidate Abdullah

Abdullah Abdullah is thought to be a leading contender in Afghanistan's upcoming presidential election.

KABUL -- The Taliban has claimed responsibility for opening fire on the convoy of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul.

A spokesman for the Abdullah campaign, Fazelurhaman Orya, told RFE/RL that no one was hurt in the attack.

A Taliban spokesman claimed that three of Abdullah’s bodyguards were killed and several others injured in the assault.

The attack occurred in the Surobi district of Kabul on February 18 as Abdullah was returning from a campaign event in the eastern province of Nangharhar.

Abdullah, a former Afghan foreign minister, is considered a leading contender for the April 5 presidential election.

Five years ago, he lost to outgoing President Hamid Karzai in a vote widely condemned for massive fraud.