Former Afghan President and peace negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani has been assassinated by a suicide bomber hiding an explosive in his turban. Four bodyguards also died and a key presidential adviser was wounded in the attack at Mr Rabbani’s home in the capital Kabul.Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “absolutely appalled” by the murder, describing Mr Rabbani as hard-working and respected.Afghan President Hamid Karzai cut short a visit in America over the attack, which dealt a harsh blow to peace efforts.
The turban bomber entered Mr Rabbani’s house in the Afghan capital and blew himself up inside, said Mohammad Zahir, the chief of criminal investigation for the Kabul police.Mr Cameron said: “We met on my last trip to Afghanistan where I was able to hear and see for myself his determination to work for a better Afghanistan.”He will be sorely missed but the work of the Peace Council will go on. We remain determined to see Afghanistan prosper.”
Mr Rabbani headed the High Peace Council, set up by the Afghan government to work towards a political solution to the country’s decade-long war.However, it had made little headway since it was formed a year ago. Mr Rabbani was president of the Afghan government that preceded the Taliban rule.After he was driven from Kabul in 1996, he became the nominal head of the Northern Alliance, mostly minority Tajiks and Uzbeks.The Alliance swept to power in Kabul after the Taliban’s fall.Mr Rabbani’s killing dampens hopes of starting peace negotiations with Taliban insurgents. – Skynews
