Mattis says too soon to say if Afghan attack will affect voter turnout

It is too soon to say how an attack in Afghanistan that killed a top security chief would affect voter turnout in Saturday's elections, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, but added that the U.S. military's mission was unaltered.

It is too soon to say how an attack in Afghanistan that killed a top security chief would affect voter turnout in Saturday's elections, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said but added that the U.S. military's mission was unaltered.

"It's the loss of a patriot," Mattis said on Friday, referring to the death of General Abdul Razeq, the police commander in southern Kandahar.

"But we remain absolutely committed to an Afghan-led Afghan reconciliation. We need to find who's done this. But right now, we are going toward the election and we will continue to defend the Afghan people."

(With inputs from agencies.)