23 Taliban, two cops dead

New clashes between Taliban and troops left 23 rebels and two policemen dead, officials said Saturday. Taliban rebels stormed a district administrative headquarters in the eastern province of Khost late Friday, sparking a battle that was joined by Nato helicopters and left at least 13 rebels dead, a provincial governor said.
The militants were hit by a Nato air strike as they were retreating after the attack in Alishar district, on the border with Pakistan, provincial governor Arsala Jamal told AFP. In a separate incident, Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed 10 Taliban militants in a ground and air "engagement" early Saturday in the southern province of Helmand, a coalition statement said.
In the south-eastern province of Ghazni, a police post came under attack from Taliban fighters in Ab Band district. Two policemen were killed and three abducted, provincial police chief Alishah Ahmadi said.