Afghan governor killed in roadside bomb blast

Kabul: An Afghan provincial spokesman has said that a roadside bomb has killed a district chief and three of his bodyguards in the eastern part of the country.

Laghman provincial government spokesman Sarhadi Zewak said the government's top official in Alishang district was driving to a meeting when his car was blown up in the road. Mr Zewak said it was not clear if the bomb had been remotely detonated or if the vehicle - a Toyota Corolla - had struck some sort of trigger.

Mr Zewak said authorities believe district chief Faridullah Niazi was being directly targeted by insurgents.

Such targeted assassinations of people allied with the government or international forces have surged this year.