Intelligence operatives among 7 killed

TARINKOT/SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Two National Directorate of Security (NDS) agents, one policeman and four rebels have been killed and seven others wounded in separate incidents of violence, officials said on Monday.

Separate bombings killed the NDS officials in front of their homes in Tirinkot, the capital of central Uruzgan province, 2^nd Lt. Gul Agha Zmarai told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said the officials were returning home from morning prayers when they stepped on landmines in front of their residences.

Elsewhere, a policeman and four rebels were killed during an overnight attack on police check-posts in Kobak and Umar-i- Khan villages, police chief Brig. Gen. Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani said.

He said Qari Sadruddin, a notorious Taliban commander, was among the dead.

Abdul Basit, a resident of the locality, said civilians suffered no harm during the two hours firefight.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attacks. Three police check-posts were destroyed, he said. Mujahid did not say anything about Taliban causalities.

nh/mud