A SENIOR AFGHAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WAS GUNNED DOWN BY THE TALIBAN IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, WHILE A BOMB BLAST IN A NORTHERN PROVINCE INJURED SEVEN, POLICE SAID SUNDAY. GUNMEN ON A MOTORBIKE SHOT DEAD THE SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER ON SATURDAY NIGHT WHILE HE WAS GOING TO HIS HOME IN LASHKAR GHA, THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF HELMAND, YOUSIF STANIKZAI, SPOKESMAN FOR THE AFGHAN INTERIOR MINISTER, TOLD DEUTSCHE PRESSE-AGENTUR "DPA." YOUSIF AHMADI, WHO CLAIMS TO BE THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE OUSTED TALIBAN REGIME, CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY. AHMADI ALSO SAID THE INSURGENTS ON SUNDAY NIGHT KILLED AN AFGHAN MAN WHOM THEY CLAIMED WAS SPYING FOR THE US MILITARY IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF ZABUL. IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE OF BAGHLAN A BOMB BLAST ON SUNDAY INJURED SEVEN PEOPLE, INCLUDING FOUR AFGHAN POLICE AND THREE CIVILIANS, STANIKZAI SAID.
