Afghan governor warned of plot to kill him

Kandahar: An Afghan governor told a mosque filled with mourners on Monday that he had been warned that militant suicide bombers were trying to kill him.

The threat comes a day after a deadly bombing in the country. Afghans on Monday buried friends and relatives in the southern town of Kandahar a day after a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of men and boys watching a dog fight, killing some 80 people.

The attack was the deadliest bombing in Afghanistan since the Taliban was ousted from power in 2001. It follows a year of record violence and predictions that the conflict could turn even deadlier this year.

A Taliban spokesman denied the militia was behind the attack.

Antonio Giustozzi, an Afghanistan expert, said it couldn't be ruled out that the attack was carried out by tribes in Arghandab.