TMCnet News
5 including former Afghan governor killed in ambush+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)KABUL, March 18_(Kyodo) _ Five people including a prominent former governor were killed in an ambush in southeastern Afghanistan on Saturday, an official said. Taj Mohammad Qari Baba, a former governor of Ghazni Province, was shot dead along with his four bodyguards by unidentified attackers in Andar district of Ghazni, said the district chief Haji Habibullah. The assailants opened fire at Baba's vehicle, he said, adding that all five died on the spot. Although Baba was not officially occupying any government posts lately, he openly supported the U.S.-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. Police have launched an investigation into the attack, although Taliban militants are suspected to be responsible. Baba served as governor in 1992-1995 and again in 2002 following the ouster of the Taliban regime by a U.S.-led coalition. The killing is the latest of prominent Afghans who have been targeted by the Taliban for speaking out against them. A week ago, a suicide car bombing targeted the head of the upper house of the Afghan parliament as he was traveling in the capital Kabul, injuring him and killing four other people. |