Taliban attack presidential candidate, killing civilian in North

KABUL, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants on Wednesday attacked a gathering of their former friend Mullah Abdul Salam Rocketi, who is also a presidential candidate, killing one person and injuring another in Baghlan province north of Afghanistan, police said.

"The militants opened fire on people who gathered to announce their support for Mullah Rocketi in the coming presidential election, killing one civilian and injuring two others," a seniorpolice officer Zalmai Mangal told Xinhua.

The incident, the police official added, took place in Parchawaat 03:00 p.m. local time (1030 GMT).

However, he did not say if Rocketi was present among supportersat the time of the attack.

Rocketi, a former Taliban high ranking commander and sitting lawmaker in the Afghan parliament, is among 41 candidates contesting the upcoming presidential polls.

Meanwhile, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via telephone from undisclosed location claimed responsibly for the attack, saying the insurgents disrupted the meeting held as part of election campaign.

Afghanistan's second presidential election in the post-Talibannation is going to be held amid tight security on Aug. 20, as Taliban insurgents have vowed to disrupt it.