First Vice President Amrullah Saleh�s convoy was targeted early Wednesday morning in the Taimani area of PD 4 in Kabul city, Saleh�s office confirmed.

Tariq Arian, Interior Ministry spokesman, confirmed 10 were killed and 16 were wounded in the Kabul blast targeting the convoy of First VP Amrullah Saleh.

According to Saleh�s office the target was Saleh�s convoy, but Saleh survived the attack although some of his staff and bodyguards were wounded.

Three in Saleh�s convoy, including bodyguards, were wounded in the blast, said Rezwan Murad, head of public relations for the vice president�s office. Saleh was not hurt in the blast, he said.

Ebad Saleh, VP Saleh�s son, tweeted that he was with his father when the blast hit their convoy and said: "I assure you he�s fine and everybody is fine, no martyrs from us just yet."

Saleh in a video message confirmed that his convoy was attacked, that his security guards were injured, and that he has minor wounds on his hand and face.

Saleh apologized for the harm done to bystanders in today�s attack on his convoy.

A source told TOLOnews that three vehicles belonging to Saleh�s security guards were passing the area when the blast occurred.

According to sources earlier, three people were killed and 12 others, including two of Saleh�s guards, were wounded in the blast.

The Ministry of Interior earlier confirmed two were killed and 12 were wounded in the blast.

The Taliban issued a statement denying involvement in the blast.

Reactions

The Presidential Palace in a statement condemned the attack on First VP Saleh�s convoy and said that such attacks cannot weaken the strong will of the people for peace, and that the security and defense forces will continue to fight terrorism.

Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, in a statement condemned the attack against the first VP and called for a serious investigation.

"The attack on the first VP took place on the eve of peace talks when our message--and the people�s-- is peace. The hidden enemies do not want peace and stability for Afghanistan."

Haneef Atmar, acting foreign minister, tweeted: "I condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack on Saleh, the first vice president. The enemies cannot hinder the peace process with such attacks. Our determination to achieve peace is unbreakable."

EU representatives in Kabul strongly condemned "the cowardly attack" against the First Vice President Saleh.

"We are glad that he remains unharmed. This is an attack on the Republic, and desperate act by spoilers of peace efforts, who must be collectively confronted. Condolences to the affected families," the tweet said.

NATO�s senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, Stefano Pontecorvo, in a tweet condemned the attack on First VP Saleh, saying: "The enemies of peace continue to ignore the will of the Afghan people to stop violence and start intra-Afghan negotiations."

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/20134

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