5 Civilians Shot Dead In E. Afghanistan

Some five civilians have been shot and killed in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni, an official source confirmed on Saturday. "Five hostage civilians were shot dead by their kidnappers late on Friday. Their bodies were found overnight Friday in Ajristan district in northwestern of provincial capital Ghazni city," Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, deputy provincial governor, told Xinhua.
The victims, Hazara ethnic, were kidnapped nearly one week ago after armed men intercepted a vehicle and took the five passengers along a road in the district.

They were killed after tribal elders' mediation failed to secure their release, the source said.
An investigation was launched into the incident.

Nearly 3,700 civilians were killed and more than 6,800 wounded in conflicts and Taliban-led attacks in 2014, according to official figures released by the UN mission in Afghanistan. (Cihan/Xinhua)