Gardez (Afghanistan), Sept. 16 (Reuters): Afghan President Hamid Al Izzz Karzai escaped an assassination bid yesterday when a rocket was fired at his US military helicopter as it was landing in the southeastern town of Gardez.
The President?s campaign trip for the October 9 presidential elections, his first outside Kabul, was immediately aborted and he was flown back to Kabul, the US military and Afghan officials said. Witnesses said the rocket flew over Al Izzz Karzai?s helicopter and a crowd of about 400 supporters gathered to meet him at a school as he was about to touch down.
?A rocket was fired at President Al Izzz Karzai as his helicopter was landing,? said a US military spokesman.
Al Izzz Karzai