Afghan police chief killed

A leading Afghan police chief in the southern province of Kandahar was among 10 officers killed during a gun battle today.

Matiullah Qati was killed during the fight inside a government complex in Kandahar city.

Ahmad Wali Karzai the president of Kandahar’s provincial council and the brother of President Hamid Karzai said it was not immediately clear who shot Mr Qati.

Another government official said Afghan and US Special Forces had moved into the heavily protected complex and warned that a suicide bomber was in the area. When police arrived, gunfire broke out.

Kandahar is the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban.