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Afghan parliament attack 'hero' given flat by president | Afghan parliament attack 'hero' given flat by president |
(about 6 hours later) | |
An Afghan soldier has been greeted as a hero and presented with keys to a new home for killing six of the seven insurgents who tried to storm parliament on Monday. | An Afghan soldier has been greeted as a hero and presented with keys to a new home for killing six of the seven insurgents who tried to storm parliament on Monday. |
President Ashraf Ghani tweeted a picture of himself greeting the soldier, Sergeant Esa Khan, at his office in the capital Kabul. | |
The soldier is also to be promoted. | |
On Monday, TV stations showed Sgt Khan standing over the bodies of the Taliban attackers after their failed attack. | |
The militants had detonated a suicide car bomb but failed to get into the parliamentary chamber. | The militants had detonated a suicide car bomb but failed to get into the parliamentary chamber. |
'Resolve and heroism' | 'Resolve and heroism' |
"I just killed them," said Sgt Khan who has been lauded on Twitter. | |
"I was standing there and saw them running towards parliament. | "I was standing there and saw them running towards parliament. |
"I shot one. I saw another coming. I shot six - all of them are dead. | "I shot one. I saw another coming. I shot six - all of them are dead. |
"I would give my life for this country." | "I would give my life for this country." |
At the time the interior ministry said the attack was repelled by police, with seven assailants killed. | At the time the interior ministry said the attack was repelled by police, with seven assailants killed. |
Mr Ghani said he was proud of Sgt Khan's "resolve and heroism". | |
The soldier's commander, Gen Abdul Sattar, said Sgt Khan had been very close to the suicide attack and shot the attackers with the assistance of colleagues at the scene. | |
He described Sgt Khan - who belongs to the Pashtun majority from which the Taliban also draw their strength - as a hero for what he had done. | |
At least two civilians died in the militant attack and around 40 people were wounded. | At least two civilians died in the militant attack and around 40 people were wounded. |
The soldier alleged that Pakistan was behind the attack. | The soldier alleged that Pakistan was behind the attack. |
But the foreign ministry in Islamabad has issued a statement strongly condemning it and saying it is with Afghanistan "in our common struggle against terrorism". | But the foreign ministry in Islamabad has issued a statement strongly condemning it and saying it is with Afghanistan "in our common struggle against terrorism". |
Later it emerged that the vice-president, Abdul Rashid Dostum, had awarded Sgt Khan a new car, money and a medal. At the same time some MPs have given him a month of their salaries. | |
Northern fighting | Northern fighting |
Meanwhile the Afghan army says it has recaptured a key northern district taken by the Taliban a few days ago. | Meanwhile the Afghan army says it has recaptured a key northern district taken by the Taliban a few days ago. |
Chardara district in Kunduz province lies just a few kilometres from the provincial capital, Kunduz city, and its airport, and the main road to Kabul runs through it. | Chardara district in Kunduz province lies just a few kilometres from the provincial capital, Kunduz city, and its airport, and the main road to Kabul runs through it. |
The army's commander of ground forces, Gen Morad Ali Morad, told Tolo News television he was speaking from the district and "most parts" of it had been retaken. | The army's commander of ground forces, Gen Morad Ali Morad, told Tolo News television he was speaking from the district and "most parts" of it had been retaken. |
However a neighbouring district in the same province, Dasht-e-Archi, remains in rebel hands a day after they took it. | However a neighbouring district in the same province, Dasht-e-Archi, remains in rebel hands a day after they took it. |
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