Afghan candidate killed in ambush
KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A candidate for Afghanistan's parliament was shot to death Wednesday evening in an ambush near the town of Beh Yak in Ghazni province south of Kabul, the spokesman for Ghazni Gov. Asadullah Khalid said Thursday.
Muhstafa Wardak said the incident took place about 7:30 p.m. when four Taliban ambushed a car, killing local politician Akhtar Mohammed Toowak on the scene and fatally wounding his driver.
The spokesman said one Taliban was killed and four others were later arrested in connection with the shooting.
The captured Taliban told authorities they were following orders issued in Quita, Pakistan, where the Taliban are believed to be based, Wardak said.
Toowak was a mujahedeen commander during their battle with the Soviets and lived in London during the Taliban era. He returned to Afghanistan after the U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban and served in the country's two Loya Jirgas.
Toowak is the first candidate for parliament to be targeted for assassination; analysts have warned that the parliamentary election could prove violent.
