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Explosion, Gunfire Rock Kabul

March 28, 2014
by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

Fighting is continuing between Afghan security forces and armed militants inside a guest house in west Kabul.

Earlier on March 28, a suicide bomber blew up an explosives-packed car inside the guesthouse.

Kabul police chief Mohammad Zahir told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that gunmen entered the building following the explosion. 'Police officers arrived in the area within minutes to confront the attackers,' Zahir said.

He said the building houses a USAID-funded international nongovernmental organization. Zahir said there were several foreign nationals inside the guest house, including U.S., Australian, and Malaysian citizens.

Meanwhile, security officials say at least 10 people were injured in a stampede at a campaign rally in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif.

According to officials, no one was killed in the incident.

However, witnesses told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that three people were killed in the stampede, which occurred during a rally for presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah.

Radio Free Afghanistan reports that hundreds of people crowded the stage to shake Abdullah's hand, causing the stage to collapse.

Abdullah and his entourage escaped unharmed.

Abdullah, a former foreign minister, is a leading contender in Afghanistan's April 5 presidential election.

Security remains the biggest challenge for the election campaign as the Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt the vote.

Noor Muhammad Noor, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) says that some polling stations might not open on the election day due to security concerns.

A latest assessment of the situation indicates the number of the polling stations under increased security threats is considerably higher than the previous estimates, which stood at nearly 400, Noor told Radio Free Afghanistan.

Security Concerns

Thomas Rymer, a spokesman for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), says 'security is a clear concern' for everyone, including international monitors.

He said half of the 15-strong OHIDR monitoring team has left Afghanistan following last week's deadly attack on the Kabul hotel where the team was based.

'Security is clearly a concern, and we've looked into that situation very carefully with regard to our staff. That can never be 100 percent, of course, but we are satisfied, at present at least, that the conditions are good enough for them to work there,' Rymer said.

Rymer said the remaining ODIHR staff in Afghanistan are 'working more to provide expertise to the Afghanistan authorities in how to organize, how to run a democratic election.'

'The OSCE participating states have asked our office - the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights -- to provide support to the Afghanistan's authorities in the running the administration, the organization of elections in line with international standards for democratic elections,' Rymer said.

Altogether 11 candidates were registered to run in the election, but three have withdrawn from the race.

The constitution bars incumbent Hamid Karzai from seeking a third term.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/explosion-gunfire-rock-kabul/25313069.html

Copyright (c) 2014. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.