German aid worker shot dead in Afghanistan

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Mar 8 (Reuters) A German aid worker was shot dead while travelling with colleagues in northern Afghanistan today, a provincial governor said.

Sar-e-Pul Governor Sayed Mohammad Iqbal Nib said no one else had been hurt.

''Terrorists were behind this,'' he said, adding police reinforcements had been sent to the area to investigate.

The group, German Agro Action, has several foreign workers in the north, local officials say.

Two German journalists were shot dead in October while camping in nearby Baghlan province.

Aid workers, especially Afghans, are often attacked by the Taliban and other insurgents.

Today's death comes as the Taliban say they hold an Italian journalist in the south they accuse of spying for British troops.

REUTERS SP KP2250