AFGHAN POLICE KILLED FOUR TALIBAN MILITANTS WEDNESDAY DURING HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE SOUTHERN HELMAND PROVINCE, A LOCAL OFFICIAL SAID. ONE AFGHAN POLICEMAN WAS ALSO WOUNDED IN A THREE-HOUR GUNBATTLE THAT BROKE OUT AFTER TALIBAN MILITANTS AMBUSHED A POLICE CONVOY IN THE GRISHK DISTRICT, ABOUT 30 KILOMETERS (18 MILES) NORTH OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL LASHKAR GAH, SAID LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL GHULAM MUHIDDIN. POLICE SHOT DEAD FOUR MILITANTS, WHOSE BODIES WERE LEFT BEHIND BY OTHERS WHO HAD FLED, MUHIDDIN SAID. ONE CAR, FIVE AK47 ASSAULT RIFLES AND TWO HEAVY MACHINE GUNS WERE CONFISCATED, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED.
