KABUL – At least 20 Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 more wounded in aTaliban assault on two military check posts in the western Farah provincebordering Iran, officials confirmed on Sunday.

Haji Ghausuddin, governor of the Pusht Rod district, informed AnadoluAgency that the Taliban stormed the check post late Saturday night, and theclashes continued till early Sunday. He said the rebels killed 20 soldiers,took away more than 10 soldiers as captives and confiscated arms andammunition.

Meanwhile, Muhibullah Muhib, spokesman for the provincial policeheadquarters, has only confirmed the killing of 10 soldiers. He added thatfive rebels were also killed in the attack, including their commander HafizSaeed. He added the Special Forces had reached the area to liberate fivecaptive soldiers.

The Taliban spokesman, Qari Yosuf Ahmadi, has claimed responsibility forthe attack claiming to have killed 21 soldiers and abducting 12 more. In astatement, he claimed no Taliban fighters were harmed.This is the secondattack of the sort in the district. Last month, eight soldiers were killedin a Taliban assault here.

Local officials in Farah have long been blaming Iran for backing the rebelsin the area, a claim rejected by Tehran.In the southern Zabul province, thelocal Tolo News reported the police chief of Meezan district was killed ina Taliban attack on Saturday night.