Afghan ex-minister escapes assassination attempt

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An influential former Afghan warlord who served as water and energy minister in a previous administration narrowly escaped an assassination attempt Friday in the country’s western Herat province, a police spokesman said.

Ismail Khan — who is also running as vice president for one of the candidates in the April 5 presidential election — was attacked after mid-day prayers, said police spokesman Abdul Raouf Ahmadi.