Fighting kills 3 Afghan soldiers, 8 Taliban militants in E. Afghan province

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least three army soldiers and eight Taliban militants were killed as a clash erupted in Qarabagh district of Afghanistan's Gahzni province on Friday night, Arif Noori, the spokesperson for the provincial governor, said Saturday.

The clash, according to the official, flared up in Liwana Bazaar area of Qarabagh district Friday night after the insurgents attacked security checkpoints and police returned fire, forcing the militants to flee with eight bodies left behind.

During the clash, which lasted for a few hours, three army soldiers lost their lives, the official said, adding 12 more insurgents sustained injuries.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that the militants had captured two checkpoints and killed more than a dozen soldiers in the firefight. Enditem