KABUL, April 5: Taliban militants shot dead a district intelligence chief in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday while a coalition soldier was wounded in a separate battle with insurgents, officials said. Four Taliban on motorbikes opened fire on the spy chief of Moqur district of Ghazni province as he was travelling to work, the provincial police chief said.

“The intelligence chief of Moqur district was killed by four Taliban on motorbikes today in the morning,” Abdul Rehman Sarjang told AFP.

Police gave chase and shot at the attackers, one of whom was arrested, he said.

Three others were wounded but managed to escape in a car, he said. They were later cornered by police who expected to arrest them soon.

On Tuesday another district intelligence chief, Mohammad Tahir from western Farah province, was also gunned down by the Taliban as he was going to office.

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the Farah attack on behalf of the Islamist movement, which has been waging a deadly insurgency since being forced from government in a US-led attack in November 2001.

Also Tuesday, soldiers serving with the US-led coalition in central Uruzgan province clashed with “enemy forces”, spokesman Colonel Jim Yonts said.

One coalition soldier was hurt and evacuated for treatment, he said in a statement.

Australian and Dutch troops are due to deploy this year to Uruzgan, which sees regular insurgent attacks.—AFP