Reports are coming in of the deputy mayor of the city of Kandahar in Afghanistan, was gunned down by Taliban gunmen while he was at a mosque praying.

According to reports the gunmen rushed into the Sadozo Mosque where Azizullah Yarmal, the deputy mayor of Kandahar, was praying and cowardly shot him in front of dozens of worshippers.

Kandahar is Afghanistan’s second-largest population center and is considered to be a strong hold of Taliban.

Operations by coalition forces are expected to take place in the Spring and Summer in Kandahar to rid the city of the Taliban. Azizullah Yarmal was one of many high roll officials which the Taliban have marked for death.

Zalmai Ayubi, a spokesman for the provincial governor said “Measures are being taken to strengthen the government system in Kandahar; therefore, the enemy is trying to target government officials to slow this process”.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility of the killing and have also said that more will follow.

Spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid said by telephone “We have already declared that those working for the government or helping the Americans will face such a fate”.

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