** bu$hs porch monkey **

Karzai 'Grenade Attempt Foiled'


KABUL (BBC) -- Afghan police say are holding a man suspected of attempting to
assassinate President Hamid Karzai on a trip to the former Taleban stronghold of
Kandahar.

The suspect was arrested with a grenade close to a road where the president's
convoy was due to pass, police said.

Mr Karzai visited the southern city to invite elements of the Taleban to help
rebuild the country and take part in the forthcoming national election.

He said his offer extended to all but a few hardcore Taleban members.

"Our problem is mainly with the top Taleban - who may number no more than 150
people - who had links with al-Qaeda," he said. "Those people are the enemies of
Afghanistan and we are against them.

"But those Taleban who are doing jobs and tilling the fields and working as
shopkeepers, we want to welcome those Taleban." He said the government had been
negotiating with less radical Taleban leaders for some months.

The Afghan leader was speaking from Kandahar - the focus of recent attacks by
the Taleban.

It was his first visit since an attempt on his life there in September 2002,
when a guard opened fire on his car as he was leaving the governor's residence.

Security officials said on Sunday that a further assassination attempt may have
been foiled after the arrest of a man with a grenade.

The suspect was seized a few minutes before the president's convoy was due to
pass by, provincial military spokesman Abdul Lali told AFP news agency.

"The individual was hiding behind a house close to the road," he said.

A source close to the presidency told AFP only that a "minor incident" had
occurred.

Security was tight during the president's visit, with the area around the
governor's residence - where Karzai was staying - blocked off.

AFP said U.S. helicopters provided surveillance from the air.

Taleban have stepped up attacks in recent weeks, with several bombings reported
in Kandahar.


--
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our
number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
~ George Bush Jr. 2001-09-13

"I don't know where he (bin Laden) is. I have no idea and I really don't care.
It's not that important. It's not our priority."
~ George Bush Jr. 2002-03-13