Seven people, including government employees, have been shot dead in south-eastern Afghanistan by suspected Taleban militants. Local security officials said it was an execution-style killing and that a woman and child are among the dead.
| That's the way you can tell it was Islamists... |
They were killed after their car was stopped near the Pakistan border in Paktika province south-east of Kabul. The seven dead were all from the same family, according to the regional military Commander, Mohammed Hussain, and at least three of them were local government officials. He told the BBC that suspected Taleban gunmen held up their car in Birmal district in Paktika province. The gunmen demanded to know if they backed President Hamid Karzai, and when they replied that they did, all except one woman member were shot on the spot. The Paktika governor has admitted he does not control Birmal.
| ... since it's just across the border from South Waziristan... |
The area is so isolated that it has taken several days for news of the shooting - which happened on Monday - to emerge. |