Twelve killed in Afghan fighting

Many warlords still run private armies in Afghanistan

At least 12 people have been killed in fierce fighting between militias loyal to rival commanders in western Afghanistan, police have said.

The clash in Herat province began after one group of fighters entered an area controlled by a rival militia.

The groups are led by Amanullah Khan and Arbab Basir, both Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.

A UN-backed drive to disarm militias is still not complete and warlords continue to run private armies.

Soldiers of the national army were deployed in the area to separate the warring groups on Sunday.

The cause of the clash was not immediately known.

Nearly six years after the fall of the Taleban, armed militias continue to be powerful political players in Afghanistan.

Warlords have key roles in the central and provincial governments.