Suicide attack kills district governor of north Afghan province

The district Chief in northern Afghan province Kunduz was killed among several other civilians in a suicide attack in a mosque on Friday morning, said security officials. According to the deputy police chief for the province, the dead included administrative head Sheikh Sadruddin of Dasht-i-Archi district, his bodyguards and several civilians. Colonel Abdullah told media that the bomber struck at 8. 30 a.m. local time when a number of people were attending a condolence ceremony for a tribal elder, who died a day earlier. The security officials have not given any specific number of the civilian causalities but some local media reports said that at least 20 people were killed and wounded in the militant attack. The Dasht-i-Archi district is a stronghold of Taliban that lies over 140 kilometres of the provincial capital Kunduz city. The dead, Sheikh Sadruddin, was appointed as district chief five years ago and survived several attacks including roadside bombing before. The attacks by the Taliban have been escalating, as the NATO/ISAF forces are completing withdrawing troops by 2014. Earlier, at least 15 policemen were killed and 10 others were wounded in a militant attack in Farah province of western Afghanistan, said officials on Thursday.