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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Prominent Kandahar elder killed | Prominent Kandahar elder killed |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A prominent Afghan tribal leader who spoke of his fears of assassination by the Taliban has been killed near the southern city of Kandahar. | A prominent Afghan tribal leader who spoke of his fears of assassination by the Taliban has been killed near the southern city of Kandahar. |
| Unidentified gunmen shot Abdul Rahman in the head as he was walking home. | Unidentified gunmen shot Abdul Rahman in the head as he was walking home. |
| Mr Rahman had become widely known in Afghanistan after telling President Karzai that those who spoke out against the Taliban risked being killed. | Mr Rahman had become widely known in Afghanistan after telling President Karzai that those who spoke out against the Taliban risked being killed. |
| The Taliban are blamed for a spate of killings in Kandahar province ahead of a planned Nato-led assault this summer. | The Taliban are blamed for a spate of killings in Kandahar province ahead of a planned Nato-led assault this summer. |
| At least 13 community leaders and government officials have been killed in and around the city of Kandahar in less than two months. | At least 13 community leaders and government officials have been killed in and around the city of Kandahar in less than two months. |
| Earlier this week the UN moved foreign staff out of the city and told 200 of its local employees to stay at home because of the deteriorating security situation. | Earlier this week the UN moved foreign staff out of the city and told 200 of its local employees to stay at home because of the deteriorating security situation. |
| Elders' anger | Elders' anger |
| Mr Rahman was shot dead in his home district of Zharai, not far from Kandahar city. | Mr Rahman was shot dead in his home district of Zharai, not far from Kandahar city. |
| He was among elders who took President Karzai to task at an angry meeting of 1,500 tribesmen in the city at the start of April. | He was among elders who took President Karzai to task at an angry meeting of 1,500 tribesmen in the city at the start of April. |
| Mr Karzai was told few dared join the army for fear of being killed by the militants | Mr Karzai was told few dared join the army for fear of being killed by the militants |
| On a rare visit to the area, the birthplace of the Taliban, the president was sharply criticised on issues of security, corruption, bribery and nepotism. | On a rare visit to the area, the birthplace of the Taliban, the president was sharply criticised on issues of security, corruption, bribery and nepotism. |
| He was also told few dared join the army for fear of being killed by the militants. | He was also told few dared join the army for fear of being killed by the militants. |
| Mr Rahman was one of a number of elders who said they feared being killed by the Taliban if they spoke out against them. | Mr Rahman was one of a number of elders who said they feared being killed by the Taliban if they spoke out against them. |
| The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who attended the meeting, said the elders made it clear they thought Mr Karzai's government was as much a problem as the militants, who have grown in strength in the region in recent years. | The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who attended the meeting, said the elders made it clear they thought Mr Karzai's government was as much a problem as the militants, who have grown in strength in the region in recent years. |
| Mr Rahman accused certain officials of destabilising Kandahar and named a number of them at the meeting. He said their activities were making the province insecure. | Mr Rahman accused certain officials of destabilising Kandahar and named a number of them at the meeting. He said their activities were making the province insecure. |
| President Karzai had gone to Kandahar with top US commander Gen McChrystal to try to win support for the anti-Taliban offensive. | President Karzai had gone to Kandahar with top US commander Gen McChrystal to try to win support for the anti-Taliban offensive. |
| The campaign in Kandahar is being led by a major emphasis on politics - unlike the last offensive in neighbouring Helmand province which began with a military push. | The campaign in Kandahar is being led by a major emphasis on politics - unlike the last offensive in neighbouring Helmand province which began with a military push. |
| The message from the tribesmen was that they are not ready for any major military assault - Mr Karzai assured them it would not start without their support and recognised there was a lot for him to fix first. | The message from the tribesmen was that they are not ready for any major military assault - Mr Karzai assured them it would not start without their support and recognised there was a lot for him to fix first. |
| Spate of killings | Spate of killings |
| Kandahar has seen a wave of violence in recent weeks. | Kandahar has seen a wave of violence in recent weeks. |
| Officials killed since February include the city's deputy major who was shot dead in a mosque earlier this month. | Officials killed since February include the city's deputy major who was shot dead in a mosque earlier this month. |
| The Taleban accused the men of being "puppets" for the government. | The Taleban accused the men of being "puppets" for the government. |
| Kandahar city continues to have strong links with the Taliban and Western military commanders expect an increase in violence in the coming months. | Kandahar city continues to have strong links with the Taliban and Western military commanders expect an increase in violence in the coming months. |
| The US military want to secure the city and put it firmly under Afghan government control. The battle is seen as a potential defining moment in the conflict. | The US military want to secure the city and put it firmly under Afghan government control. The battle is seen as a potential defining moment in the conflict. |
| Kandahar city is key to the new US military strategy of protecting major population centres. | Kandahar city is key to the new US military strategy of protecting major population centres. |
| But the Taleban appear determined to stop that happening in their traditional stronghold. | But the Taleban appear determined to stop that happening in their traditional stronghold. |