Karzai's Running Mate Escapes Afghan Mine Blast (Reuters) Reuters - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's running\mate for Saturday's historic presidential election escaped\unhurt Wednesday when a mine exploded under his convoy in the\remote northeast of the country.\Vice presidential candidate Ahmad Zia Masood, the brother of\assassinated resistance hero Ahmad Shah Masood, had gone to\Faizabad, the capital of mountainous Badakhshan province, for a\campaign rally.