MORONI: Comoros President Azali Assoumani was wounded in an attack on Friday, the government said, with three other sources close to the presidency saying he was stabbed but only slightly injured.

`The head of state was victim of an attack in Salimani-Itsandra,` an area on the outskirts of the capital Moroni, government spokeswoman Fatima Ahamadael said.

`Thank God, his life is not in danger.

She declined to give further details but a source close to the president said: `President Azali Assoumani was slightly injured by a knife while attending a funeral. Hisinjuries are not serious.

Two other sources close to the presidency confirmed that the president was slightly injured during the attack.

`The president has received appropriate care.

He is out of danger,` a second source said. The source added that the attacker was a young `active-duty gendarme` who was recruited in 2022.

He was arrested.

Azali, 65, a former military ruler who came to power in a coup in 1999, was re-elected president in January after a disputed vote that was followed by two days of deadly protests. He has been accused of growing authoritarianism.-AFP