An Afghan official says Afghan President Hamid Karzai's half brother has been killed in southern Afghanistan.

Zalmai Ayubi, the spokesman for Kandahar province, says that Ahmad Wali Karzai was shot dead on Tuesday.

A provincial health official and a security guard protecting Ahmad Wali Karzai, who both spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the shooting.

Ahmad Wali Karzai, who was head of the Kandahar provincial council, had become a political liability for the Karzai government _ a symbol of cronyism and a lightning rod for criticism of all that is wrong with the Karzai administration.

But the president repeatedly defended him, denouncing accusations that his brother was involved in criminal activities.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) _ French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in Afghanistan to meet with some of the 4,000 troops France has deployed to the country and his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai.

Most of the French troops are in the eastern Kapisa province where two French journalists were kidnapped in December 2009 and held by the Taliban for 18 months. They were freed late last month along with their Afghan translator.

Speaking on France-Info radio on Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said security has improved in some areas where French forces are deployed, and that it was the right time for Afghan forces to start taking over in these areas.

Paris has said that about a fourth the French troops will be out of Afghanistan by the summer of 2012.