Afghan aviation minister assassinated

Afghanistan's Aviation Minister Mirwais Sadiq died on Sunday following an attack in the western city of Herat, the presidential palace has announced.

"I can confirm that he has died," presidential spokesman Khaleeq Ahmad said in Kabul. The minister had been badly injured in the attack and earlier reports said that he Sadiq had survived.

Ahmad added that Sadiq's father, Herat provincial governor Ismail Khan, was safe in Kabul and had not been the subject of a second assassination attempt, contrary to earlier reports.