Afghan security agency foils attacks, seizes explosives

A string of possible terror attacks has been thwarted in western Afghanistan's Ghor province, the country's intelligence agency said Wednesday.

"The enemies of peace and stability tried to launch several bombings and terror attacks during election campaigning of presidential candidates in Dulina district of Ghor province and its provincial capital Chaghcharan city. But the attacks were hindered as the personnel of National Directorate for Security (NDS) found and seized the enemies' explosive cache there," Xinhua quoted NDS as saying in a statement.

The cache, found in Dulina district, contained 80 kg of explosives, one booby-trapped motorcycle, two landmines, 16 rounds of mortar shells, six remote control devices, the statement said.

Afghanistan's third presidential and provincial council elections are slated for April 5 this year. Political campaigning by presidential candidates officially started Feb 2 and will close April 2 or 48 hours before the election day.

Up to 11 contenders, including several former ministers and other politicians, have registered their names to contest for the country's top post.