Afghan official: Taliban kill 20 police officers in attack

Source: AP

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Taliban fighters overran checkpoints in a nighttime raid in Afghanistan's volatile southern Helmand province, killing at least 20 police officers as the battle raged into Saturday, authorities said.

The assault came as Afghanistan's military acknowledged the Taliban controls at least four districts across the country.

The attacks in Helmand hit police checkpoints in the Musa Qala district, long a Taliban stronghold, said Mohammad Ismail Hotak, the head of the province's joint coordination of police and military operations.

He said the attacks wounded at least 10 officers, though the Taliban also seemed to have suffered high casualties.

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