Would-be assassin intercepted in car loaded with explosives

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A would-be assassin who aimed to crash an explosives-packed car into members of Afghanistan's national leadership was foiled when officials arrested him after a traffic accident in Kabul on Monday, national television reported.

The report cited a statement by the Afghan intelligence service and did not identify the suspect, nor say how investigators learned of his alleged plan to ram the car into a vehicle or vehicles carrying government members.

A second man also was arrested in the case, said Interior Ministry spokesman Alishah Paktiawal.

The TV report was accompanied by video of the man's Toyota Corolla, whose door panels were exposed to show yellow blocks of what the intelligence service statement said was explosives.

The report also showed a photo of the suspect, a heavily bearded young man in a vest and open shirt. His dress and appearance seemed Afghan or Pakistani, but the government statement read by the station said he was a foreigner and the plan was developed abroad.

It did not explain how the explosives were uncovered after the accident.

The suspect, said to have been injured in the accident, was taken to the intelligence service's offices for interrogation, the statement said.

"International terrorism once again is showing its face," the statement said. "The enemies of Afghanistan are not sitting quietly."

Remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaida are believed to be lying low more than a half-year after the Taliban were driven from power and Afghanistan's transitional government is troubled by enmity between ethnic groups and by warlords who command substantial forces.