In Afghanistan, nine people, including a provincial council candidate, kidnapped in northern Sar-e-Pul province on Monday were killed by the insurgents. Media reports quoting provincial officials today said the dead bodies of four of them were found in Katlar area of the capital city Sar-e-Pul while five others in Bahawi area.

The provincial council aspirant Hussain Nazari was a candidate from Balkhab district for the Sar-e-Pul provincial council. Nazri along with eight others, believed to be his campaign workers, were kidnapped, on their way back to Katlar on Monday.

Terrorist violence in Afghanistan has escalated ahead of the presidential and provincial council elections on Saturday. The Taliban has threatened to disrupt the poll process.