Taliban "shadow" governor slain
By Matt Dupee, The Long War Journal - July 11, 2008 4:53 PM - Afghan civilians confronted a group of twelve Taliban fighters in the desolate northwestern province of Faryab on Thursday, sparking a clash that left two Taliban fighters killed and sent the rest fleeing for their lives. Among those killed was Abdul Hamid Akhundzada, the newly appointed Taliban “shadow” governor for Faryab, making it the second Taliban-appointed governor killed this season...Posted on 16 July 2008 @ 15:35 GMT...Thursday’s clash came a day after the newly arrived Taliban insurgents attempted to kidnap local aid workers working to build a well in Faryab’s Qayar district. Villagers caught up with the gang of insurgents the following day and after a brief confrontation, shot the Taliban commander dead and chased the remaining fighters away using sticks and stones. It was the first reported incident of civilians killing Taliban insurgents in the northern areas this year.