Afghan deputy minister kidnapped in Kabul

An Afghan deputy minister of public works was kidnapped Tuesday morning in northern Kabul, sources said. "Gunmen kidnapped the Deputy Minister of Public Works Ahmad Shah Wahid in Khair Khana locality. One of his security guard was wounded in a short exchange of fire," a security official told Xinhua anonymously. Officials of the Afghan interior ministry confirmed the kidnapping. Efforts are underway to rescue the abducted official, the source said, adding that the police launched an investigation into the incident which took place at around 07:00 a.m. local time. No group or individuals have yet to claim responsibility for the kidnapping. A number of gangs had in the past been blamed for kidnapping people for ransom in the war-hit country.