Policemen among 14 killed in Helmand clash

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Two policemen and 12 militants, including a commander, were killed in a clash in the Nawzad district of southern Helmand province on Thursday, an official said.

The gunbattle took place at 5am in the Jazzi area of the district, Dawood Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said an insurgents attack on the Gul Agha police check-post touched off a fire exchange that left dead a dozen assailants, including militant commander Abdul Baqi. Three policemen wounded in the clash were shifted to hospital.

Security forces had controlled the situation, with militants fleeing the area at 1pm, Ahmadi added.

But Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi denied the attackers had suffered any casualties. Instead he said two policemen were killed in the fire exchange.  

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