WORLD
Afghan president`s brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, killed
Baku, July 12 (AZERTAC). The half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been assassinated in Kandahar, officials say.
Ahmad Wali Karzai, a leading power broker in the country`s south, was shot dead at his home in a blow to Nato`s battle against the Taliban in the area.
He was shot twice by his long-time head of security Sardar Mohammed, who was himself killed almost immediately.
The Taliban said they carried out the attack, calling it one of their top achievements in 10 years of war.
Sardar Mohammed`s motives remain unclear, but the killing will raise questions about securing Afghanistan`s top officials. His is the latest and most high-profile in a series of assassinations of senior politicians and security commanders across the country.
The Afghan president said the assassination reflected the suffering of all Afghan people.
"This is the way of life for the people of Afghanistan," said Mr Karzai. "The homes of all Afghans feel this pain. Our hope is this (violence) will come to an end and peace and happiness come to our homes and will come to rule in our country."
Critics said Ahmad Wali Karzai was a warlord mired in corruption who was openly involved in the drugs trade and had a personal militia at his disposal.
His supporters saw him as a defender of Pashtun rights. The president repeatedly defended him, denouncing accusations that his brother was involved in criminal activities.
Security was intensified in Kandahar following Tuesday morning`s shooting, as the body of Ahmad Wali Karzai, who was born in 1961, was taken to a nearby hospital.