Afghanistan police chief survives suicide attack

KANDAHAR - Agence France-Presse

Afghan policemen are seen at the scene of Tuesday's night explosion in Kandahar, south of Kabul, Afghanistan Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. AP photo

The police chief of Afghanistan's troubled Kandahar province Wednesday survived a suicide bombing just behind his fortified office, officials said.

The militant wearing an explosives-packed vest and posing as a civilian visitor had made it to the waiting room of General Abdul Raziq's office before detonating.

"We think it was a premature explosion. The explosion took place at the waiting room of the police chief," Ghorzang, Raziq's secretary, told AFP.

The police chief, who at the time of the blast was in his office, was separated from the waiting room by a middle room and survived the attack unhurt, he added.

Ghorzang, who like many Afghans uses only one name, said the bomber had disguised himself as an ordinary resident and told security guards that he wanted to file a complaint.

The interior ministry in Kabul confirmed the suicide bombing within the police facility and said there were no casualties. An investigation is underway, the ministry said in a statement without giving further details.

The Taliban, the main insurgent group, have used suicide bombers disguising themselves as local residents to attack high profile government officials.

The former police chief of Kandahar, General Khan Mohammad, was killed in a suicide bombing inside the police headquarters in April 2011.