Kabul: Afghan President Hamid Karzai survived an assassination attempt by a "uniformed" attacker on September 5, Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said.

"The President himself has survived," Abdullah told reporters.

A uniformed gunman opened fire at around 6:30 pm (19:30 IST) as Karzai was traveling in a car to a shrine in the centre of the city, said Abdullah.

Kandahar governor Gul Agha was slightly injured in the incident and the assassin was shot dead on the spot by a bodyguard who was also killed in the exchange.

"The President was getting out of the governor's house to go to the shrine, a uniformed armed person appeared just in front of the car and opened fire.

"A bodyguard then opened fire on him. Both were killed on the spot, the bodyguard was martyred and the assassin was killed."

Abdullah said, "Two bullets infiltrated (Karzai's) car but fortunately did not injure anyone in the car."