Do More With Reuters

Senior Afghan generals suspended for Karzai attack

Mon May 12, 2008 7:39pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL, May 12 (Reuters) - Many senior generals from Afghanistan's armed forces have been suspended from duty and are being questioned over last month's botched attack on President Hamid Karzai, an official said on Monday.

Karzai survived the assassination attempt at a military parade near the presidential palace on April 27 when Taliban insurgents used small arms fire and rockets.

But three people, including one parliamentarian, were shot dead before three of the assailants were killed.

The government had arrested a defence ministry officer and an interior ministry doctor for helping the Taliban to carry out the raid on the same day it happened, but said more officials might have been involved in facilitating it.

Attorney General Abdul Jabar Sabit, tasked to take over the investigation from a previous commission, on Monday suspended eight officials from the ministries of defence and interior, and the intelligence department, an official said.

The eight included several generals - Kabul's police chief, Salem Ehsas, Abdul Khaliq who is head of defence ministry's intelligence and detection, Abdul Manan Farahi, chief for counter-terrorism of the interior ministry, and Nazar Shah who heads the intelligence department for Kabul.

"Sabit gave the order for the suspensions of the eight people so they can be investigated because they had the responsibility for security at the parade," Hayatullah Hayat, an official in the attorney general's office, told Reuters.

Asked if the eight were suspended as suspects, Hayat said:  Continued...

 
Photo

Catch the latest news, pictures, stats and live race commentary on our special Formula 1 page.  Full Coverage 

Photo

Record oil prices, rising inflation and political uncertainty is spooking investors and the markets. Track the latest on our markets page.  Full Coverage 

Photo

Catch the latest as India acts to quash inflation and guard food supplies.   Full Coverage 

Photo

India and South Asia market Technical Analysis with Phil Smith

REUTERS POLL

What concerns you more:
Nuclear deal
Price rise
Indian cricket team's performance
Symbol Bid Ask
BRENT CRUDE $0.00 $0.00
GOLD $0.00 $0.00
SILVER $0.00 $0.00