25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

KABUL, Jan 24: A senior Afghan official in southeastern Zabul province escaped unhurt but his two guards were injured when their convoy was ambushed by the Taliban overnight, officials said Saturday.

The attack occurred near Zabul's capital Qalat late on Friday, provincial security chief Mohammed Ayob said.

A bullet passed through the turban of Mohibullah, chief of Zabul's See-yoray district, while his two guards were hit and one of them seriously wounded, he said.

Ayob said security forces arrested a well-known Taliban fighter after an exchange of gunfire which lasted for more than an hour.

Mohibullah was on his way to Qalat to visit an Afghan aid organisation when the attack took place.

Ayob, who did not identify the lone Taliban fighter, said the militant had confessed to having received training in Pakistan.

"The Talib has been sent to Kabul to the war on terror department of the interior ministry for interrogation."

Taliban rebels have launched frequent attacks against US-led forces, Afghan militiamen and government officials in recent months in a bid to regain influence after the ouster of hardline Islamic militia from power in late 2001.

The wave of violence in south and southeast Afghanistan has forced UN and humanitarian agencies to scale back operations, undermining urgently needed reconstruction work as the country attempts to rebuild after 23 years of war.-AFP