A senior official in southern Afghanistan was shot dead Wednesday by gunmen on a motorbike, the deputy police chief of Kandahar province told AFP. Abdul Majeed Zazai, the Kandahar provincial director for culture and information, had just left his home to go to his office when the incident happened at around 10.45 am (0615 GMT), said Mohammad Shah Farooqi. "Abdul Majeed Zazai was assassinated by unknown gunmen riding past on a motorcycle. We are investigating," Farooqi said. Kandahar is a hotbed of activity for insurgents fighting to topple the government of President Hamid Karzai and has been targeted by foreign forces for major military action against the Taliban.