Afghan deputy minister kidnapped in Kabul

An Afghanistan deputy minister for public works was kidnapped Tuesday in northern Kabul, sources said.

"Gunmen kidnapped the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Ahmad Shah Wahid, in Khair Khana locality. One of his security guards was wounded in a short exchange of fire," a security official told Xinhua.

Officials of the Afghan interior ministry confirmed the kidnapping.

Efforts were underway to rescue the abducted official, the source said, adding that the police launched an investigation into the incident, which took place at early Tuesday.