Officials say that Afghan forces, supported by NATO-led air strikes, have repelled an attempt by Taliban insurgents to take over a district in eastern Afghanistan.
Mohammad Zarin, spokesman for the governor of Nuristan, which borders Pakistan, said 10 people were killed in the hours-long gunbattle after the suicide bombers and gunmen mounted a fierce attack in the district headquarters of Kamdesh.
Kamdesh district is in a mountainous area of the province near the Pakistani border.
Zarin said six police and four civilians were killed in the ensuing fighting.
He said all 17 insurgents have also been killed. Twenty civilians, including children, were also injured.
The Taliban took responsibility for the attack.
A spokesman for the NATO-led coalition could not immediately confirm whether the coalition had provided air support.
Mohammad Zarin, spokesman for the governor of Nuristan, which borders Pakistan, said 10 people were killed in the hours-long gunbattle after the suicide bombers and gunmen mounted a fierce attack in the district headquarters of Kamdesh.
Kamdesh district is in a mountainous area of the province near the Pakistani border.
Zarin said six police and four civilians were killed in the ensuing fighting.
He said all 17 insurgents have also been killed. Twenty civilians, including children, were also injured.
The Taliban took responsibility for the attack.
A spokesman for the NATO-led coalition could not immediately confirm whether the coalition had provided air support.