Suspected Taliban militants attacked a security post in the southern Afghan province of Helmand overnight, killing eight Afghan private security contractors.
Officials for the provincial administration said at least two other guards were injured and a Taliban fighter killed in the gunfight.
The security personnel were guarding a company constructing a road linking the capital city of Lashkar Gah to the volatile Sangin district.
The Taliban said in a statement, however, that 16 police officers manning the post were killed.
Meanwhile, NATO forces said a detainee was found dead in his holding cell in the southern province of Kandahar on October 17. The man was detained in an operation on October 16.
The alliance did not provide further details other than to say that an investigation was under way.
compiled from agency reports
Officials for the provincial administration said at least two other guards were injured and a Taliban fighter killed in the gunfight.
The security personnel were guarding a company constructing a road linking the capital city of Lashkar Gah to the volatile Sangin district.
The Taliban said in a statement, however, that 16 police officers manning the post were killed.
Meanwhile, NATO forces said a detainee was found dead in his holding cell in the southern province of Kandahar on October 17. The man was detained in an operation on October 16.
The alliance did not provide further details other than to say that an investigation was under way.
compiled from agency reports