Afghan President Hamid Karzai campaigned on Tuesday for the first time since an assassination attempt last month. As he and his main rivals spread out ahead of Saturday’s presidential election, the Afghan Islamic Press news agency reported seven policemen were killed when their vehicle detonated a mine in the southern province of Kandahar.There were no immediate details, but the Taliban guerrillas who have vowed to disrupt the poll were believed responsible.Hundreds of troops, police and security guards, including special American bodyguards, were on alert as Karzai spoke to about 10,000 people gathered outside a Muslim shrine in the town of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul.”This vote is not just to choose a president, but for peace and stability in Afghanistan” said Karzai, a close ally of President Bush “Instead of fighting, we are campaigning for our elections. We should be proud that we have freedom at last.”Snipers patrolled nearby rooftops and soldiers pointed automatic rifles at the crowd as Karzai, dressed in Afghanistan’s trademark shawar kamis and a karakul cap, spoke alternately in the country’s two main languages, Dari and Pashto.Full Story
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