Afghan election candidate dies in bomb blast

KABUL, Oct 17 (Reuters): An Afghan lawmaker contesting this week's parliamentary elections was among four people killed on Wednesday by a bomb planted under his office chair, officials said, in an attack claimed by Taliban militants.

Abdul Jabar Qahraman was killed as he prepared for Saturday's election, a senior government official said, becoming the 10th candidate killed in the past two months, with two more abducted and four wounded by hardline Islamist militants.

"Such brutal acts of the terrorists and their supporters cannot weaken people's trust in the peaceful and democratic processes," President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement condemning the attack.