1st LD Writethru: 4 army soldiers killed in S. Afghan base attack: official

At least four Afghan army soldiers were killed and five others injured in an overnight attack by Taliban militants on an army base in the country's southern province of Kandahar, a local official said on Tuesday.

"Unknown number of militants stormed an army camp in Taik locality, Khakrez district late on Monday. The troops fought back the attackers and four army soldiers were martyred and five others wounded during the clash which lasted for hours," Samim Khpalwak, the provincial government spokesman, told Xinhua.

He said several militants were also killed and wounded during the gun battle, but their number could not be exactly specified as the militants evacuated their casualties after the fightings in the district, which is located in the northern part of provincial capital Kandahar city.

The province, some 450 km south of national capital of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between Taliban and security forces over the past years.

The Taliban has intensified attacks around the country recently, as spring and summer known as fighting season, are drawing near in the Central Asian country. Enditem