A candidate in Afghanistan\'s election has been shot dead. Mohammad Ashraf Ramazan, an ethnic hazara, was driving through the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif when he was shot by unknown attackers. Mr Ramazan is the first candidate to be killed by militants since the 18 September election. The counting of votes is still continuing. The US said earlier that two of its soldiers had been killed in attacks in the south and east of the country. In Mazar-e-Sharif, eyewitnesses told the BBC that police cordoned off the streets immediately after the attack, but the attackers managed to flee the area. Afghanistan\'s election commission says Mr Ramazan had been running in fifth place for one of 11 assembly seats in Balkh province with 12% of the vote counted so far. Some people had expressed concern before the vote about an \"assassination clause\" in the election law. The clause says if a winning candidate dies, his seat will go to the next candidate in line. Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the killing. \"Mr Ramazan was a patriot who had well served his community. I strongly condemn the killing of Mohammad Ashraf Ramazan,\" he said in a statement. A well-known trader, Mr Ramazan was a supporter of Mohammad Mohaqiq, the former planning minister. (BBC)