Clash leaves 6 Taliban, 2 civilians dead in E Afghanistan

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 15:15

Khost, Afghanistan, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Six Taliban insurgents were killed Tuesday evening as they came in contact with police in eastern Afghan province of Paktika, a provincial administration spokesman said Wednesday.

"Armed Taliban rebels stormed police checkpoint in a village near provincial capital Sharan Tuesday evening and police returned fire, killing six rebels on the spot," Hmidullah Zuak told Xinhua.

Two civilians were also killed and four other women and children sustained injuries in the fire-fight, he said.

Taliban militants, who have vowed to launch a spring offensive, in a suicide car bombing Wednesday morning hit one U.S. military base outside Khost city in east Afghanistan, leaving seven Afghan workers dead and 21 others injured.

Editor:Zhang Yun