Female UN staff member assassinated in Kandahar City, Afghanistan

The Associated Press, October 12, 4:45 AM EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan official says that a female U.N. worker was shot and killed by unknown gunmen in the city of Kandahar.

Samim Akhpolwak, spokesman for the provincial governor in Kandahar province, said on Monday that Toorpakai Olfat, an Afghan national, was on her way to the office from home when two gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed her.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed Olfat's death in a statement and said, "The circumstances of the incident are under investigation."

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing.

Meanwhile, Taliban insurgents attacked Afghan security forces in multiple locations in Ghazni province on Monday, said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry.

Around 6:30 a.m. insurgents attacked police check points in the Giro district, and sporadic gun battles were still taking place, Sediqqi said.

Militants also attacked the police station in Ghazni city "from three different directions," Sediqqi said, adding that Afghan army helicopters had been deployed to the scene to support the police.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the militant group had shut down the Kabul-Kandahar highway in Ghazni province.

[END REPORT]