Afghan President escapes from Taliban assassination attempt

Militants firing automatic weapons and rockets have attacked a ceremony in Kabul attended by the Afghan President. But President Hamid Karzai was able to escape the assault unharmed. Sunday's attempt by Taliban fighters left three people dead, and eight others wounded.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has strongly condemned the Taliban attack. He said he was relieved that Karzai escaped unhurt in the assault. De Hoop Scheffer stressed that NATO will continue to support the Afghan government and people in defending their security and their democracy.

Gunmen opened fire in the capital during a ceremony marking the 16th anniversary of the Mujahedeen victory in Afghanistan.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault. A spokesman for the Taliban said it had deployed six militants to target the President. Three of them died in the attack.

Afghan's Defense Minister says the government has launched an investigation.

General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Afghan Defense Minister said "Three of the people who we think started firing, all of them have been killed by the security forces. And some people have been detained. An investigation has been ordered by the President. It is going on and we have been able to identify some people who might have facilitated this act of terror."

Afghan authorities say a local Shiite leader, Nasir Ahmad Latefi, and a young boy also died in the attack.

Later on Sunday, hundreds of mourners attended a funeral for Latefi at a mosque in the capital.

President Karzai later appeared on state television to address the nation. He said "enemies of Afghanistan" tried to disrupt the ceremony. But the attack was thwarted by security forces.

Karzai became Afghanistan's President soon after a US-led invasion ousted the Taliban regime in 2001. He has escaped several assassination attempts.