Provincial candidate survives Taliban attack in N Afghanistan

KABUL, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants attacked the vehicle of a candidate for provincial council, injuring one of his guards in northern Afghan province of Takhar Friday night, provincial police said on Saturday.

"Hajji Jamshid escaped unhurt as unknown armed men opened fireat his car in Khoja Bahauddin district near his residence, but left one of his guards injured," Ziahuddin Mahmodi told Xinhua.

Meantime, Taliban's purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Jashid and his two guards were injured seriously after attack carried out by his men.

The second presidential and provincial election in the post-Taliban country is to set on Aug. 20 this year while Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt the election and warned Afghans to boycott it.