'Five die' in Afghan gun battle

Four suspected Taleban militants and an Afghan soldier have been killed in a gun battle in the southern province of Zabul, Afghan officials say.

About 20 militants attacked the mayor's office in Atghar district near the Pakistani border on Monday, provincial governor Khial Mohammed said.

He said one of the Taleban killed was a commander who had organised a number of operations in the region.

Zabul is a main base for Taleban attacks against the Afghan regime.

Governor Mohammed said: "The fighting went on for three hours and after leaving four dead the militants fled to the mountains."

Atghar district is about 340km (212 miles) south-east of Kabul.

Taleban fighters are believed to slip over the porous border with Pakistan to regroup before launching fresh attacks.

The US military has not confirmed the incident. There are more than 18,000 US-led coalition troops stationed in Afghanistan.