An explosion in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Tuesday killed at least seven people and wounded 18 others, including the provincial governor and the United Arab Emirates ambassador who was visiting the city, officials said.
The governor's spokesman, Sameem Khpalwak, who was among those wounded in the attack, said the incident took place during a meeting between senior officials and diplomats from the UAE embassy.
Kandahar police chief, Gen. Abdul Raziq, one of the most feared anti-Taliban commanders in Afghanistan, was present at the meeting but was unharmed in the attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The UAE foreign ministry issued a statement following the bomb attack.
"(The ministry) is following the heinous terrorist attack on the guesthouse of the Kandahar governor which resulted in the injury of his excellency Juma Mohammed Abdullah al-Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and a number of Emirati diplomats," the statement said.
