10 policemen killed in Afghanistan

Militants have killed 10 policemen, injured five and taken away 19 after launching an assault in the western Afghan province of Ghor, says the police.

Militants have killed 10 policemen, injured five and taken away 19 after launching an assault in the western Afghan province of Ghor, the police said on Saturday.

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The guerrillas attacked the policemen who were conducting an operation in Shahrak district on Friday. Among the dead is district police chief Abdul Qahar, said a police officer.

"I think a Mujahedeen commander might be behind this incident," the officer said.

Meanwhile, the US-led coalition forces on Thursday killed 23 militants and detained 11 in an operation to disrupt Taliban weapons transfer operations in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, said a statement on Saturday.

Several guerrillas were engaged and killed during the operation.

Over 5,600 people have been killed in violence this year in Afghanistan, where the Taliban, removed from power by the US invasion in late 2001, has waged insurgency against the Afghan government and international troops.