KABUL, Nov 1: Some 40 people were killed when Afghan police and a former military commander and his fighters fought a fierce battle in southwestern Helmand province, the Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.
The clash erupted on Friday afternoon in Gereshek district when police stopped a convoy of vehicles belonging to ex-military commander Haji Idrees for a routine check and the commander resisted.
Bakhtar said Idrees and his deputy were among those killed in the fighting, as well as three women and 12 other civilians caught in the crossfire.
Earlier the AIP said the fighting involved two pro-government militia groups and put the death toll at 25.
Bakhtar said several shops were damaged and many civilians were also injured.
AIP said an Afghan traveller, who arrived in Quetta told the news agency he had heard that 45 people might have been killed in the fighting.
The agency quoted local sources as saying that US troops were seen heading towards the troubled area, but no other details were available.
The incident reflected the poor security situation especially in the south and southeastern parts of Afghanistan amid increasing rebel attacks and clashes attributed to local warlord rivalries.
REBELS’ CONTROL: Rebels on Saturday seized control of a district headquarters in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, looted government arms and
set fire to the building before fleeing, AIP said in Islamabad.
The attackers occupied Watapur district headquarters, some 35 kilometers northeast of provincial capital Asadabad, for two hours but did not kill or hurt any official, the Pakistan based agency said.
They however warned the local administration officials to leave the area and never come back, AIP said, quoting local sources.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Watapur.—Agencies
