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Afghan vice-president Mohammad Qasim Fahim dies | Afghan vice-president Mohammad Qasim Fahim dies |
(35 minutes later) | |
One of Afghanistan's two vice-presidents, Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, has died of natural causes aged 57, a government spokesman has said. | One of Afghanistan's two vice-presidents, Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, has died of natural causes aged 57, a government spokesman has said. |
The Afghan government has called for three days of mourning, during which flags will be flown at half-mast. | The Afghan government has called for three days of mourning, during which flags will be flown at half-mast. |
Marshal Fahim was a leader of the Tajik ethnic minority and a former warlord. | Marshal Fahim was a leader of the Tajik ethnic minority and a former warlord. |
He was part of the alliance that ousted the Taliban in 2001 and served first as defence minister, before becoming vice-president in 2009. | He was part of the alliance that ousted the Taliban in 2001 and served first as defence minister, before becoming vice-president in 2009. |
President Hamid Karzai's office told the Associated Press news agency that Marshal Fahim died from an illness. | President Hamid Karzai's office told the Associated Press news agency that Marshal Fahim died from an illness. |
Assassination attempt | Assassination attempt |
The president called Marshal Fahim a true patriot and said his death was "a huge loss for Afghanistan". | The president called Marshal Fahim a true patriot and said his death was "a huge loss for Afghanistan". |
He was an ally of leading anti-Taliban fighter Ahmed Shah Masood, who was killed two days before the 9/11 attacks by two Tunisian Islamist militants posing as journalists. | |
After Mr Masood's death, Marshal Fahim headed the Northern Alliance and analysts say he commanded great loyalty from former fighters. | |
Before the 2009 presidential election, Marshal Fahim survived an assassination attempt when the convoy he was travelling in was fired at with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. The Taliban said it carried out the attack. | Before the 2009 presidential election, Marshal Fahim survived an assassination attempt when the convoy he was travelling in was fired at with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. The Taliban said it carried out the attack. |
His death comes ahead of presidential elections on 5 April to replace Mr Karzai, who cannot run for a third term in office. | His death comes ahead of presidential elections on 5 April to replace Mr Karzai, who cannot run for a third term in office. |
Marshal Fahim's loyalties had swung between different candidates, Davood Moradian, the head of the Kabul-based Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, told Reuters. | |
Presidential candidate Hedayat Amin Arsala told AP Marshal Fahim's death "will affect the future political development". He did not give further details. | Presidential candidate Hedayat Amin Arsala told AP Marshal Fahim's death "will affect the future political development". He did not give further details. |