Afghanistan security chief shot dead by bodyguard

One of the top security officials in Afghanistan has been assassinated by his bodyguard as he left a meeting discussing security arrangements for local elections due to take place on Saturday.

General Abdul Raziq was shot and killed by a bodyguard outside the regional governor’s compound in Kandahar, in an attack that also claimed the life of Kandahar's intelligence chief, Abdul Mohmin. Kandahar governor Zalmai Wesa was taken to hospital with critical wounds.

US General Scott Miller, who also attended the meeting, left the compound a matter of minutes before the gunman opened fire, according to Al Jazeera.

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The Washington Post reports that a Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yusuf Ahmadi, “said in an email to journalists that the group carried out the attack and that [US General] Miller was among the main targets”.

The New York Times says Raziq was considered “an indispensable American ally with influence across critical areas of southern Afghanistan”, particularly adept at keeping Taliban forces in check. He had previously survived “dozens” of attempts on his life.

The lone gunman, reportedly to be a member of the provincial governor’s security team, was shot dead at the scene by security forces.