Policeman, Four Taliban Killed in Afghanistan Attack

A policeman and four Taliban insurgents were killed overnight when militants attacked government offices in central Afghanistan, the local police chief said Monday.

The attack in the Qarabagh district of Ghazni province lasted about an hour and started when the Taliban launched two rockets at the district's administrative headquarters before opening fire on a police checkpoint nearby.

Police shot back, triggering a gun fight, but insurgents did not get inside the compound, Ghazni police chief Dilawar Zahid said.

"Four militants and a policeman have been killed in the clash," Zahid said.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed that eight policemen were killed in the clash. The Taliban is known frequently to exaggerate claims in relation to attacks launched by insurgents.

The attack came after 22 people died in a gun and suicide attack on the compound of the governor of Parwan province, just north of the Afghan capital Kabul.

The Taliban have been leading an insurgency against the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai for nearly 10 years and frequently target government offices and officials.