Blasts near major political gathering in Kabul kills three

A major political gathering in Kabul came under an attack on Thurday. The gathering was marking the anniversary of the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, a Hazara leader.

Kabul: Several explosions struck Thursday outside a ceremony in Kabul attended by Afghanistan's chief executive and the former president, both of whom were unharmed, officials said.

There was conflicting information as to the casualty figures in the immediate aftermath of the blasts.

A short while later, Health Ministry official Mohaibullah Zaeer said an initial check of Kabul's hospitals revealed three people have been killed and 32 wounded in the attack but he said the figures were not final.

Earlier, another official, who was at the ceremony, said seven people were killed and at least 10 were wounded.

He spoke on condition of anonymity to talk to reporters. The different accounts on the casualties could not immediately be reconciled.

There was also no claim of responsibility for the explosions.

Nusrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the blasts were due to mortar shells being fired and that one person has been arrested.

Rahimi declined to answer questions on casualties.

The ceremony was commemorating the 1995 death of prominent minority Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari, who was killed by the Taliban.

Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai attended the gathering.