DHAKA: Taliban gunmen shot and killed the head of the Independent Election Commission in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province on Wednesday, a day after he warned that deteriorating security threatened next year’s presidential elections.

Amanullah Amaan began his work during the first presidential election in 2004. He was the commission`s first member to be assassinated since it started work in May.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, reports The Jerusalem Post.

The group’s elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar sent a message to the Afghan people in August rejecting the elections and vowing to fight until foreign troops leave. Most troops are due to withdraw by the end of next year.

‘Two gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on Engineer Amaan this morning,’ said Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini.

‘Amaan was on his way to work when he was attacked in Kunduz city.’

Amaan died of his wounds in hospital.

BDST: 1549 HRS, SEPT 18, 2013
RoR/RK