Suspected rebels kill 5 cops in Afghanistan

The five policemen were shot dead when rebels stormed a police post on a highway near Qalat.

Suspected Taliban rebels stormed a highway police checkpost in southern Afghanistan early on Monday and killed five policemen, abducted four others and stole weapons, police said.

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Security officials reported meanwhile that three members of the Afghan security forces and 10 suspected Taliban were killed in separate incidents on Sunday.

The five policemen were shot dead when rebels stormed a police post on a highway near Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, a police official told the agency on basis of anonymity.

"Taliban have kidnapped four other policemen and have stolen two vehicles, plus all weapons in the post," the official said.

Zabul is one of several provinces in southern Afghanistan that has seen a surge of attacks by militants fighting for the extremist Taliban government that was removed from power in late 2001.

In an attack in the province yesteray an Afghan army vehicle was hit by a roadside mine and one soldier was killed, defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said.

A second soldier died later in hospital, another army officer said on condition of anonymity. A group of Taliban was also arrested.