Afghan official: former commander who backed government, 2 others die in Kunduz suicide attack

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A former militia commander who supported the Afghan government and two others were killed Saturday night by a suicide bomber who blew himself up at a football game in northern Afghanistan, officials said.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Zemeri Bashary said 19 other people, including children, were injured in the attack shortly before 7 p.m. in Kunduz, the capital of Kunduz province.

Deputy provincial police chief Abdul Rahman Haqtash said the target of the bombing was a former local warlord and militia commander known by one name, Selab. He fought against the Soviet Union occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s and during the civil war that followed.

An Afghan policeman and a relative of Selab who worked as the commander's bodyguard also were killed, Haqtash said.

"He was a supporter of the Afghan government," Haqtash said. "This is why he was targeted by the militants."

He said the Taliban planted a mine near Selab's house about four months ago. Selab survived that explosion, but one person was killed and two others were wounded in the attack.