Thirteen killed in Afghan ambush

Nine policemen were killed during an attack by suspected Taleban rebels on Friday afternoon in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand.

Four Taleban rebels were also killed, officials said on Saturday.

Two weeks ago, 18 Afghan policemen were killed in a separate incident in Helmand province.

Violence related to the intensified Taleban-led insurgency in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people this year.

Provincial administrator Ghulam Muhiddin told the Associated Press news agency that insurgents had attacked police from behind rocks as they were driving slowly along rough roads looking for a rebel hide-out in the area.

Suspected Taleban militants have killed eight pro-government clerics this year - including three over the last week.

Several thousand people held a demonstration against the Taleban campaign in the eastern province of Khost on Thursday.