LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan Taliban fighters in the southern Afghan province of Helmand attacked a checkpoint with silenced weapons and hand grenades early on Tuesday killing 12 policemen and stealing weapons and ammunition, officials said.
Afghan security forces now control less than 60 percent of the country, according to U.S. estimates, with the Taliban in control of about 10 percent and the remainder contested between government and insurgent forces.
In a separate incident, another 12 policemen were killed in the Marjah district of Helmand after an hour-long gunbattle, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.
The police killed in the attack had been pulled back from the southern district of Khanshin district which security forces abandoned last year.
"The Taliban attacked a guard with silenced guns and then entered the check post," Helmand deputy police chief Haji Gulai told reporters.
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