Afghan officials say a fresh wave of violence in the country has left 25 people dead, including nine tribal elders killed by Taleban guerrillas.
Uruzgan's provincial governor, Jan Mohammed Khan, says four Afghan police officers and five insurgents were killed in a gunbattle in a southern village of his province on Friday.
He says the violence began earlier this week when the insurgents attacked a security post. He says seven guerrillas were killed in the ensuing gunbattle.
Later in a nearby village, he says, the guerrillas kidnapped and killed nine tribal elders accused of cooperating with U.S.-led coalition forces.
Mr. Khan says a kidnapped young boy was released to deliver a message to authorities that the guerrillas were prepared to exchange the dead bodies of the elders for dead rebels. The governor says the exchange was not made.
Uruzgan's provincial governor, Jan Mohammed Khan, says four Afghan police officers and five insurgents were killed in a gunbattle in a southern village of his province on Friday.
He says the violence began earlier this week when the insurgents attacked a security post. He says seven guerrillas were killed in the ensuing gunbattle.
Later in a nearby village, he says, the guerrillas kidnapped and killed nine tribal elders accused of cooperating with U.S.-led coalition forces.
Mr. Khan says a kidnapped young boy was released to deliver a message to authorities that the guerrillas were prepared to exchange the dead bodies of the elders for dead rebels. The governor says the exchange was not made.