Taliban attack Afghan town, 53 dead - government

KABUL, May 18 (Reuters) Taliban insurgents attacked a town in the southern Afghan province of Helmand and 13 policemen and 40 Taliban were killed in nine hours of fighting, the province's deputy governor today said.

The Taliban attacked the town, Mosa Qala, yesterday evening and the fighting went on until early today, the Interior Ministry said.

Earlier, the deputy governor of Helmand said nine policemen and at least 16 Taliban had been killed.

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