Afghan minister survives attempted assassination

The Afghan government says a key Cabinet minister has survived an assassination attempt just north of Kabul.

The government says bodyguards for Afghan Interior Minister Bismullah Khan Mohammadi shot and killed a would-be suicide bomber who was waiting for the minister's convoy Sunday in Sayyed Khel district of Parwan province, north of the capital.

The Interior Ministry says the bodyguards checking security ahead of the minister became suspicious of the assailant.

When the man continued walking toward them, they shot him dead.

The ministry says the minister was not yet on the scene.

Parwan provincial police chief Sher Mohammad Maladani says the attacker was wearing a suicide bomb vest, and he was killed before he could detonate his explosives. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.