Karzai guard 'linked to terror group'

The security guard who tried to assassinate Afghan president Hamid Karzai is thought to be linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, it emerged today.

The would-be killer, dressed in uniform, was shot dead by the Afghan leader's US bodyguards after he fired four shots at Mr Karzai's car.

He was identified as Abdul Rahman, from Kajaki in Helmand province. He had joined the security forces of the governor of Kandahar less than three weeks ago.

Gove r nor Gul Agha Sherzai, who was wounded in the attack, said Afghans from Kajaki were known to have fired on US patrols in that area. The assassination attempt and a Kabul bomb attack which killed at least 10 people were yesterday blamed on the al Qaida network.

Tony Blair sent a message to Mr Karzai expressing his shock.

The security guard opened fire on the car as it left the governor's mansion in Kandahar, the former spiritual home of the Taliban where Mr Karzai had been attending his brother's wedding. Mr Sherzai, sitting next to him, was left bleeding from the neck and a bodyguard sitting in the front of the car was also injured.

Mr Karzai's US bodyguards opened fire in response to the shooting, and three people were killed.

BBC reporter Lyse Doucet, who witnessed the attack, said: "There was absolute chaos when the gunfire rang out. I was in a vehicle just a few yards from the President's. It seems as though the President, who was in a rather buoyant mood ... leaned from the window of his car when a young boy approached him to shake his hand.

"Moments later an Afghan in uniform moved forward and fired four rounds into the President's vehicle.

"Two bullets whizzed right past him."