Karzai security under review

The gunman was wrestled to the ground and shot dead

Urgent meetings are under way in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to discuss President Karzai's security following an attempt on his life on Thursday.

The president has returned to Kabul from the southern city of Kandahar, where a gunman fired at him before being shot dead himself.

The gunman fired four shots into the car

Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including a local security commander.

International peacekeepers have meanwhile tightened security in the capital, Kabul, after a car bomb killed at least 16 people earlier on Thursday.

Security forces have arrested one person in connection with the bombings.

Despite both attacks, Mr Karzai insists he will continue to make public appearances.

Pointing the finger

In the assassination attempt in Kandahar, a uniformed man fired four shots into Mr Karzai's car as he waved to well-wishers before attending a wedding party for his younger brother.

Afghanistan instability

August: At least 15 people die in gun battle near Kabul

July: Attempt to blow up government ministers foiled.

July: Vice-President Haji Abdul Qadir shot dead

April: 160 suspected coup-plotters arrested

Mr Karzai's American bodyguards shot the man dead. Two other Afghan security men were also killed in the exchange.

The spokesman for the governor of Kandahar said that among those arrested in connection with the incident was the former head of security, Sayed Rasoul.

The gunman, Abdul Rahman, had joined the security forces less than three weeks ago. He came from Kajaki in the province of Helmand, an area with a reputation as a Taleban stronghold.

Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah has already blamed the assassination attempt on Taleban and al-Qaeda forces.

"It is further evidence that the war against terror in Afghanistan is far from over," he said at a press briefing.

Mr Karzai is holding a scheduled meeting on Friday with Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov, to discuss deliveries of military equipment.

The two men will also talk about the possibility of Russia providing training for Afghan army officers.

Security risk

Mr Karzai is guarded 24-hours a day by US security forces, in addition to trained Afghan bodyguards, ever since one of his vice-presidents, Haji Abdul Qadir, was shot dead in broad daylight in Kabul last July.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who was travelling in Mr Karzai's convoy when the shooting happened, says that the Afghan leader remains under constant threat.

Karzai is protected by US security forces

Speaking to the BBC hours after the attempt on his life, Mr Karzai seemed remarkably calm given recent events, she said.

"I'm fine," he said. "I expect things like this to happen."

In Kabul, international security forces have erected road blocks at major intersections - but they say that without shutting down the capital there is no guarantee they could prevent further attacks.

The driver of a taxi in which the car bomb was planted has been arrested, Afghan Interior Minister Taj Mohammad Wardak said.

US President George W Bush has reaffirmed his support for Mr Karzai's administration.

"We're not leaving... we want to help democracy flourish in that region," he said on Thursday.

And Mr Bush's Deputy Defence Secretary, Paul Wolfowitz , said that the US was no longer opposed to the international peace-keeping force (Isaf) expanding its operations outside of Kabul.