Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. July 26, 2009 Afghan Vice Presidential Candidate Survives Ambush -------------------------------------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=25946CA:A6F02AD83191E16081C182BA6410EDFCE55ED32ED25AB8F6& Meanwhile, Afghan Defense Ministry says Afghan and foreign troops killed 16 Taliban insurgents in eastern Nuristan province on Saturday Officials in northern Afghanistan say one of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running mates in next month's election has escaped an ambush by militants. Officials say gunmen fired on a motorcade carrying former Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim in Kunduz province on Sunday. Authorities say Fahim was not hurt in the attack. It is unclear who organized the ambush. Fahim and current Vice President Karim Khalili are President Karzai's running mates in the August 20th election. Afghan police officer look at a guard post which was damaged in an attack in Khost, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, 25 Jul 2009The vote is being organized amid heightened violence, with thousands of U.S. Marines, British and Afghan troops conducting an offensive against Taliban militants in Helmand province. Meanwhile, the Afghan Defense Ministry says Afghan and foreign troops killed 16 Taliban insurgents in eastern Nuristan province on Saturday. The ministry says further south in Paktika province, a roadside bomb killed two Afghan soldiers and wounded three others Saturday. In another incident near the Pakistani border, Afghan police say they killed seven suicide bombers who were preparing to attack official buildings in the city of Khost. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zamary Bashary told VOA the bombers simultaneously targeted several government and police buildings Saturday, before being shot dead by security forces. Four people, including two policemen, were wounded. Also Saturday, U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke discussed election preparations in the Afghan capital, Kabul. He acknowledged the vote faces "unprecedented and complex challenges," but said he hoped poor security would not deter Afghans from voting. Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters. .