Afghan blast kills 2, minister escapes

Afghanistan Tribal Affairs Minister Assadullah Khalid escaped a suicide bomb attack that killed two people and wounded 19 others Monday, authorities said. The bomber attacked in Kandahar City, capital of southern Kandahar province, home of the Taliban, the Xinhua news agency reported, quoting Police Chief Abdul Raziq. Raziq said the dead and wounded were civilians. CNN reported the wounded included six children. The chief said the minister was not hurt. The BBC reported the bomb was set off close to the minister's convoy. "This was an attack against his life. We were on our way to the Dand district when the attack took place. It was meant for him and his convoy," a Khalid aide told the BBC.