Mosque bombs kills Afghan governor

A bomb planted inside a mosque microphone killed an Afghan governor today as he gave an address to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Arsala Jamal was governor of Logar province, south of Kabul, and a close confidant of President Hamid Karzai, serving as his campaign manager during the 2009 presidential election.

At least 15 people were injured in the blast at the main mosque in the provincial capital of Puli Alam. No one has yet claimed responsibility but the Taliban has stepped up attacks on government officials ahead of the withdrawal of foreign combat troops next year

The bomb was in a microphone in the front area of the mosque, two officials told Associated Press. Mohammad Darwish, Mr Jamal’s spokesman, added: “When the governor was giving a speech it detonated. He is martyred.” Mr Jamal, an expert in rural development, had survived two suicide attacks in Khost province, where he was governor, in 2009, and a 2007 car bomb.

In an email to followers to mark Eid al-Adha, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar warned Afghanistan’s leaders against signing a security pact with the US that will help determine how many troops stay beyond 2014.

A bomb near a Sunni mosque in Kirkuk, north Iraq, killed 12 people and injured 24 after Eid prayers today.