TALIBAN FIGHTERS KILLED AT LEAST A DOZEN AFGHAN POLICE AND ABDUCTED UP TO 40 IN TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, WHILE U.S.-LED FORCES LAUNCHED AN OFFENSIVE IN A NEARBY PROVINCE, OFFICIALS SAID ON WEDNESDAY. IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF ZABUL, A SENIOR POLICE OFFICIAL, MOHAMMAD RASOUL, WAS KILLED AND FOUR OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING TWO SENIOR PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS, WERE WOUNDED AFTER THE TALIBAN HIT THEIR CAR WITH A ROCKET ON TUESDAY NIGHT. "THEY WERE PART OF A REINFORCEMENT SENT TO HELP A GROUP OF HIGHWAY POLICE WHO HAD COME UNDER TALIBAN ATTACK ON A ROAD OF ZABUL," SAID YOUSUF STANIZAI, THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SPOKESMAN. AN OFFICIAL IN ZABUL, WHO DECLINED TO BE IDENTIFIED, SAID MORE THAN 10 POLICEMEN WERE KILLED IN THE TALIBAN ASSAULT, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS.
