10 militants killed as clash continues in Afghanistan's Helmand province

Up to 10 Taliban militants have been killed as clash flared up in Marja district of Helmand province on Tuesday, provincial police spokesman Shah Mahmoud Ashna said.

"Unknown number of Taliban rebels launched attacks on police checkpoints in Kariz Sadi area of Marja district in the wee hours of Tuesday and police retaliated which triggered gun battle and has left 10 militants dead on the spot," Ashna told Xinhua.

Six more militants and two police personnel have been injured in the clash which is still continuing, the official added.

Notorious for growing opium poppy and insurgency, Helmand has been regarded as Taliban hotbed in the southern provinces of Afghanistan.

Helmand, which had served as Taliban former stronghold, has been the scene of bloody conflicts between security forces and militants over the past six months which have claimed hundreds of lives.

Confirming the clash in Marja district, Taliban militants in an online statement claimed that three local police deserted their rank and joined the insurgent group in Kariz Sadi area late on Monday.

However, police spokesman Ashna has termed the report mere propaganda and rebuffed it.

Taliban also claimed on Tuesday afternoon that militants loyal to the armed outfit attacked seven checkpoints in Marja district on Tuesday morning and clash between militants and government forces has been continuing.

The armed outfit in the statement also claimed inflicting huge casualties to security forces.

Since warring sides in Afghanistan usually exaggerate the casualties of their opponents, it is difficult to verify the claim with independent sources.

Both the Taliban and government forces have been trying to gain more grounds and consolidate their positions before the onset of harsh winter and snowfall in the mountainous country. Enditem