16 killed, including 13 insurgents, in battle in N. Afghanistan

Up to 16 people, including 13 Taliban fighters and three government forces personnel, have been killed in the northern Saripul province over the past couple of days, a local official said Monday.

Sporadic fighting has been continuing on the outskirts of Saripul city, the capital of the Saripul province, 350 km north of Kabul over the past several days, the official said.

The official, who declined to be identified, said that 17 more militants and four security personnel had been injured during the fighting.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Zahir Wahdat, the governor of the Saripul province, in talks with media outlets has confirmed the clash outside Saripul city, but contended that the Taliban rebels had vacated the area after suffering casualties.

However, he noted that the "Taliban rebels after suffering defeat outside Saripul city launched offensives against security checkpoints" in the neighboring Sayad district, and halted on Sunday due to snowfall.

Taliban militants who launched coordinated offensives on several villages outside the provincial capital of Saripul six days ago haven't commented. Endite