Taleban gun down judge:

An Afghan official says insurgents have killed the top judge on a provincial appeals court.

Jawed Salangi, spokesman for the governor of the eastern Ghazni province, said Sunday that Mohammad Anwar was ambushed and shot while in neighboring Wardak province the day before.

The Taleban claimed responsibility for the killing in an email sent to reporters.

Insurgent attacks on Afghan security forces and officials have intensified across the country in the past year.