Three prominent officials of Afghanistan's Kandahar province — governor Zalmay Wesa, police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq and intelligence chief Abdul Mohmin — were killed Thursday when their own guards opened fire in a security meeting, reports the AP. Two American troops were also wounded.

The big picture: Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi took credit for the attack, which comes ahead of parliamentary elections on Saturday where security is a major concern. According to a new Gallup report, 22% of Afghans have confidence in their local police and 49% in the country's military, while just 13% feel safe walking through their neighborhoods at night. Only 19% have confidence in the honesty of elections.