SUSPECTED TALIBAN MILITANTS WOUNDED A DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF IN A PRE-DAWN GUN BATTLE TUESDAY IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAID. HAJI ASADULLAH, CHIEF OF POLICE IN THE HELMAND PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF KHANASHIEN, IS IN A STABLE CONDITION AFTER BEING SHOT IN THE SHOULDER DURING THE 2 A.M. GUN FIGHT AT HIS OFFICES, SAID PROVINCIAL OFFICIAL HAJI GHULAM MUHIDDIN. POLICE BELIEVED THE GUNMEN, WHO FLED INTO THE NIGHT, WERE SUPPORTERS OF THIS COUNTRY'S TOPPLED TALIBAN REGIME, MUHIDDIN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
