Suspected militants gunned down two persons including a pro-government clergy in southern Afghan province of Kandahar Sunday morning, local officials said.

"Two unknown militants riding motorcycles opened fire on Mawlawi Abdullah Malang, the deputy chairman of local Ulema or Religious Scholars Council of Panjwai district at 5 a.m. this morning killing him on the spot," district chief Niaz Mohammad Sarhadi said.

One passerby was also killed, he said.

Taliban's spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the movement's fighters punished Mawlawi Malang for his support to the US-backed administration in Kabul.

Taliban has warned Afghans including religious leaders to stop working with American companies and Afghan army or face dire consequences.

Altogether five pro-government religious leaders were killed in the country over the past two months.

Source: Xinhua