Army General Assassinated In South Afghanistan

Taliban militants have killed an army general in the southern province of Kandahar.

Samim Khapalwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said two gunmen opened fire on General Khan Agha late on March 24 in the Dand district.

Khapalwak said the general was on the way back home from a mosque.

The attackers were killed by Khan's bodyguards, while his 17-year-old son was injured in the incident, he added.

A Taliban spokesman said the group carried out the attack.

Khan Agha is the second army general to be killed in southern Afghanistan since the beginning of February, according to the Khaama Press news website.

It said General Atamir Agha (eds: no relation to Khan Agha) died in an explosion in Helmand Province last month.

Based on reporting by dpa and Khaama Press