An Afghan warlord first hired to help hunt Osama bin Laden, then accused of facilitating his escape, died when a suicide bomber attacked a ceremony in an eastern Afghanistan village, killing as many as 15 people.
Haji Zaman Ghamsharik was among a group of government officials attending a ceremony yesterday where returning refugees were being given land in the village of Chamtala, in Nangarhar province near Jalalabad.
"One man among the people exploded himself, killing and injuring several people," said the governor's spokesman, Ahmadzia Abdulzai.
Between 10 and 15 people were killed, and another 14 injured, including the province's immigration director, Mr. Abdulzai said. All the victims were men.
No group had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mr. Zaman is a long-time warlord who was hired as a mercenary by the British and Americans during the 2001 invasion, leading a group of Afghan fighters in pursuit of Mr. bin Laden during the battle of Tora Bora.