September 22, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 21, 1429

HERAT, Sept 21: A dozen policemen and two Taliban militants were killed in an attack by the militants and subsequent siege in western Afghanistan, Heart district governor said on Sunday.

The policemen, responsible for the security of a hydroelectric dam being reconstructed by Indian engineers, were on patrol when they came under attack from dozens of militants in Herat province on Saturday, he said.

“We lost 11 policemen. They were attacked while on a patrol in a village near their headquarters in Salama Dam,” Sayed Gul Chishti told AFP.

Two Taliban were also killed in the attack, he added.

About 20 more policemen went to the scene on Sunday for a follow-up operation and were surrounded by the attackers, Chishti said.—AFP