Two Taliban attacks kill 16 policemen in Afghanistan 

DPA, Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:46:05 GMT

Kabul -

A group of Taliban fighters stormed a checkpoint in the northern Afghanistan Monday and killed eight policemen, while eight others were killed in a similar attack in a southern region, officials said Monday. The first attack took place in Baghlan Markazi district of the northern province of Baghlan early Monday, when a group of insurgents began "firing at the check post from all sides," Mohammad Akbar Barekzai, the provincial governor, said. 

The checkpoint had been recently erected on the main highway linking Baghlan to neighbouring Kunduz province to provide security for NATO convoys in the area, he said.

One Taliban fighter was also killed and another was wounded in the pre-down raid, said Ahmad Jan, a senior police official in the province. He said the Taliban fighters also captured a police ranger and seized some weapons.

The Interior Ministry in Kabul confirmed the incident and police casualties.

Eight other policemen were killed when Taliban militants attacked their security post in Panjau area of Lashkargah, the capital of the southern province of Helmand on Monday morning.

Taliban fighters are most active in Helmand, which is also the country's largest opium-producing province. The group had not made any comment on Monday's attack.

But Mirwais, who claims to speak for Hezbi Islami group in the northern provinces, told

16 policemen killed in 2 attacks in Afghanistan

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009

By Rahim Faiez, Associated Press Writer

KABUL –

Taliban fighters attacked checkpoints in northern and southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing 16 members of the Afghan National police.

Eight policemen were killed before dawn when Taliban fighters targeted a checkpoint in the northern province of Baghlan. At about the same time, Taliban fighters attacked another outpost in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, killing another eight policemen, the Interior Ministry said.

Two Taliban fighters were killed and another was wounded in the Baghlan attack, deputy provincial police chief Zalmai Mangal. Baghlan Gov. Mohammad Akbar Barakzai said the policemen were providing security on the main road through the province.

In Lashkar Gah, provincial spokesman Daud Ahmadi said the attack occurred before dawn.

One policeman who disappeared may have been linked to the attackers, he said, adding the Taliban made off with a police vehicle, six Kalashnikov rifles and a heavy machine gun.

Separately on Monday, NATO said an Afghan-international security force detained a weapons smuggler and a small group of other Taliban fighters in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. The suspect allegedly worked with Haqqani network of fighters.

The Haqqani network of Afghan fighters directs the battle against U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan from the Waziristan tribal region in Pakistan. NATO said the suspect surrendered to the joint force at a compound in the Sabari district of Khost province.

In southern Afghanistan, NATO said an Afghan-international security force detained a Taliban weapons smuggler and a couple of other fighters in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province.

No shots were fired and no one was injured in either operation.