Afghan cleric killed in Kandahar

Kandahar, Afghanistan - A pro-government cleric has died after being shot by suspected Taleban militants in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, police say.

Maulvi Mohammad Musbah was attacked on Sunday while he was walking out of his home. He died later in the day, police chief Mohammad Ayub Salangi said.

In late May, gunmen killed another leading cleric and key supporter of President Hamid Karzai in Kandahar.

Maulvi Abdullah Fayaz was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle.

Sunday's shooting was the latest in a series of attacks blamed on the Taleban and other militants opposed to the Kabul government and comes ahead of parliamentary elections due in September.

Correspondents say militants opposed to President Karzai are stepping up their efforts to undermine his government ahead of the elections.