KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — As mourners carried a slain anti-Taliban police chief through the streets of this Afghan city gripped with grief and fear on Friday, the immediate consequences of the attack that killed him were becoming clearer.

The Afghan government announced that the nationwide parliamentary elections scheduled for Saturday would be delayed by a week in the key southern province of Kandahar, where Gen. Abdul Raziq, the police chief, had been a towering figure.

Besides the general, officials said, the province’s entire senior leadership was either killed or wounded on Thursday when a gunman — believed to be a member of the security forces who had joined the insurgents — opened fire as they were leaving a meeting at the governor’s office with the top American commander in the country.

The American general, Austin S. Miller, was unhurt and returned to his command in Kabul. Three other Americans, including a brigadier general, were wounded, according to officials, who said their injuries were not life-threatening.