Karzai survives Taliban assassination attempt during military parade

President Hamid Karzai survived an assassination attempt on Apr. 27 when Taliban militants fired gunshots and rockets at a military parade in central Kabul. Three people, including a member of Parliament (MPs), were killed. Cabinet ministers, generals and foreign diplomats ducked for cover after shots rang out at the heavily guarded ceremony near the presidential palace. Bodyguards bundled Karzai into one of a convoy of vehicles that sped away. Live coverage on state television showed two turbaned MPs slumped in their seats, one about 30 meters from Karzai. One died later, as did a minority leader and a 10-year-old girl. Television coverage was cut as rockets exploded in a nearby street. Uniformed bandsmen and some soldiers joined hundreds of others scrambling to safety. The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying the attack disproved NATO claims that the insurgency was weakening. "Three of our attackers have been killed and three managed to escape. Small arms and RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] were used in the attack," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters from an undisclosed location. "Afghan and NATO authorities this year repeatedly said the Taliban are on the verge of annihilation... Now it is has been proved to them the Taliban not only have the ability to operate in the provinces, but even in Kabul." Among the foreign officials in the stand were the US and British ambassadors and General Dan McNeill, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan. All escaped unhurt. The attackers fired from a three-story building overlooking the parade ground, which is opposite Kabul's largest mosque. There had been tight security in the city for days beforehand. The assassination attempt was the third since 2001 and the first in Kabul. Karzai has survived several such attempts since he came to power after US-led and Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in late 2001.