Karzai running mate escapes Afghan mine blast

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running mate for this weekend's election has escaped unhurt after the convoy he was travelling…

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running mate for this weekend's election has escaped unhurt after the convoy he was travelling in was hit by a mine explosion, officials said.

Vice-presidential candidate Ahmad Zia Masood was in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province in the northeast of the country, for a campaign rally ahead of Saturday's poll.

The land mine, which was on the road leading from the airport to the rally site, killed one person and injured Sayed Ikramuddin, the former governor of the province, officials said on Wednesday.

Mr Ikramuddin had been governor of the province but resigned recently to join Mr Karzai's campaign.