Afghan peace council official killed in south

[May 01, 2013]  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- An Afghan official says insurgents used a bomb and small arms fire to kill a representative of a government peace council tasked with finding ways to begin talks with the Taliban to end the nearly 12-year-old war.

Omaer Zawak, a spokesman for the governor of Helmand, said the attack that killed Malim Shah Wali Kahn on Wednesday also wounded the province's deputy governor. A bodyguard also died and four others were wounded.

He said insurgents first detonated a bomb next to Khan's car and then attacked with assault rifles.

The British Ministry of Defense on Wednesday also said three of its soldiers were killed in Helmand by a roadside bomb. NATO had announced the deaths on Tuesday but had not identified the nationalities of the soldiers.

[Associated Press]

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