Militants fighting Afghan government in a new tactic, hardly imagined by security forces, targeted and killed the mayor of Kandahar city, 450 km south of Afghan capital Kabul, in his office on Wednesday.

In this undated image made available by the provincial media center Kandahar Mayor Ghulam Haider Hamidi addresses a press conference in Kandahar south of Kabul, Afghanistan. The mayor of Kandahar was assassinated on Wednesday July 27, 2011, by a suicide bomber who hid explosives in his turban Afghan officials said. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
To target government officials, the militants had often in the past strapped explosive devices in their bodies or wore explosive vests and hunted the prey.

However, this time they organized turban bomb suicide attack in Taliban former stronghold Kandahar, officials confirmed.

"Ghulam Haider Hamidi, the mayor of Kandahar, was in meeting with some people when a man placed explosive device in his turban entered the meeting hall and blew it up, killing the mayor and injured another,"a statement released by kandahar's provincial administration said.

The attacker was also killed in his explosion, it stated.

Afghans are familiar with suicide attacks, roadside bombings and gun shoots but it appears to be the first time that a turban bomb suicide attack rocked an Afghan city and claimed the life of an official.

Adopting turban bomb as weapon by anti-government militants in the conflict-ridden Afghanistan where a majority of its inhabitants often wear turban would add to the challenges of security forces.

In Kandahar, the birthplace of Taliban fighters where a vast majority of its male residents wear turban as man fashion, is very difficult for security forces to check everyone and curb possible terror attacks.

Kandahar has been the scene of increasing militancy over the past few years.

Early this month, Ahmad Wali Karzai the head of Kandahar's Provincial Council and the younger brother of President Hamid Karzai was shot dead in his home by his bodyguard and Taliban outfit claimed responsibility for the assassination.

Although, no groups or individuals have claimed responsibility for the murdering of late Hamidi the Mayor of Kandahar, provincial governor Tooryali Weesa put the attack on the enemies of peace, a termed used by Afghan officials against Taliban militants.

Hours after the deadly incident, governor Weesa in talks with journalists in Kandahar city while condemning the attack said "the enemies of peace martyred Kandahar Mayor in a coward attack this morning."

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet