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Six Policemen Killed, 4 Red Cross Workers Kidnapped in Afghanistan


Afghan authorities say militants have killed six policemen in an attack on a security post in southern Afghanistan.

A police chief in Zabul province says the militants stormed the police checkpoint near the southern town of Qalat Wednesday.

Separately Thursday, NATO officials say militants targeted a military base in southern Afghanistan, killing two soldiers with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and wounding two others.

Danish military officials confirmed that two Danish soldiers were killed in the skirmish with the Taleban Wednesday evening in southern Helmand province.

In other news, Afghan authorities say four International Red Cross employees were abducted Wednesday in central Wardak province.

Authorities say the Red Cross employees had traveled to Wardak to talk with militants about the release of a German hostage kidnapped by the Taleban in July. A local governor, Anayatullah Mangal of Sayed Abad district, said the employees are expected to be released soon.

A Taleban spokesman quoted by the Reuter news agency claimed the four were taken by the Taleban and also said they would be released soon.

Red Cross officials confirmed that two foreign and two Afghan employees had gone missing, but declined to say if they had been kidnapped.

The Taleban abducted two Germans in Wardak in July. One was later killed and the other is still being held.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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