Taliban ambush of Afghan police convoy kills 5

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, June 18 (Reuters) Taliban insurgents ambushed an Afghan police convoy today, killing five people, an official said, the latest attack in the bloodiest phase of violence since US-led forces toppled the Islamist government.

Along with four policemen, a senior former provincial official was killed in the clash in the southern province of Helmand, provincial spokesman Mahaiuddin said.

''I do not have more details about it or of possible Taliban losses,'' he added.

Violence has flared in southern Afghanistan, the Taliban heartland, as NATO troops move in to take over from the US military to allow Washington to pull out 3,000 soldiers.

Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf phoned Reuters from an unknown location to say Taliban guerrillas were behind today's ambush.

Almost 1,000 people have been killed in Taliban violence and coalition-led operations in Afghanistan this year, including more than 40 foreign soldiers, most of them Americans.

The US military last week announced its biggest operation since ousting the Taliban in 2001 to crush the militants in the south.

Operation Mountain Thrust has involved several air strikes, Afghan officials say.

REUTERS KD RN1453

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X