At least 18 police, two civilians and 30 rebels were killed in central Afghanistan during three days of fierce fighting, police said Saturday. According to dpa, the clashes ended Saturday after security forces retook control of nine police checkpoints that had fallen to the rebels. "The clashes began on Thursday when dozens of insurgents attacked police checkpoints in Jalrez district," said Khalillullah Andrabi, the police chief for the province of Maidan Wardak. Reinforcements had been sent to the area, he added. "The clashes left two police and 18 rebels wounded," said Ataullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor.
