Karzai announces more arrests over minister's murder

More arrests have been made over the killing of Afghanistan's Aviation and Tourism Minister Abdul Rahman.

Interim leader Hamid Karzai expects three senior government officials wanted in connection with Rahman's will be returned to Afghanistan from Saudi Arabia.

But he did not say whether the three are yet in Saudi custody.

"They will be brought here," Karzai told a news conference at the presidential palace in the capital, Kabul.

He will be meeting the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan later to discuss the case.

A total of five people are now being held in custody in Kabul and two others are being sought, Karzai says.

He has blamed the killing on a conspiracy involving members of his own government, and says it sprang from a personal vendetta.

Several of those wanted in the killing are senior members of a northern alliance faction from which Rahman had split.

"It didn't have any political motives behind it," Karzai said.

The case would be for the courts to decide, he says, adding that he is certain that those accused are responsible.