Afghan Election Official Gunned Down In Konduz

An Afghan police patrol in Konduz Province (file photo)

An Afghan election official has been killed in a drive-by shooting in the northeastern city of Konduz.

Amanullah Aman, the head of the Independent Election Commission for Konduz Province, was shot by two men on a motorcycle on September 18 and died shortly afterward in a hospital.

Local police official Ebadullah Talwar said Aman often walked the city without bodyguards despite offers from law-enforcement agencies to provide him with protection.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the killing.

The Taliban has warned citizens against participating in next year's polls.

Earlier this week, Afghan authorities started accepting nominations for candidates in the national elections scheduled for April 5, 2014.

Based on reporting by dpa, AP, and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan