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Afghan President's Half Brother Ahmad Wali Karzai Killed
BBC NEWS, SOUTH ASIA
July 12, 2011: the half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been assassinated in Kandahar. Ahmad Wali Karzai, a leading power broker in the country's south, was shot dead at his home in a blow to Nato's battle against the Taliban in the area. He was shot twice by his long-time head of security, Sardar Mohammed, who was killed almost immediately. The Taliban said they carried out the attack, calling it one of their top achievements in 10 years of war. But Khaled Pashtun, a Kandahar province politician, was skeptical about the Taliban claims, saying the Islamist group had claimed responsibility for many attacks in the past without much evidence of their involvement.
Sardar Mohammed's motives remain unclear, but the killing will raise questions about securing Afghanistan's top officials.
Kandahar police chief Abdul Razeq told reporters that Mr Mohammed had traveled to Mr Karzai's home early on Tuesday, saying he needed to show documents to his boss. "The man carried his pistol through the security checks to Wali Karzai's room. As soon as Wali Karzai came out of the bathroom, he opened fire and shot him in the head and chest," Mr Razeq said.
The commander of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), US General David Petraeus condemned the assassination and said Isaf would work with the Afghan government to bring anyone involved to justice.
In Washington on Tuesday, White House spokesman Jay Carney condemned Mr Karzai's killing and said the US administration sent its condolences to his family.
