Authorities in southern Afghanistan say Taliban insurgents have killed at least 17 police officers in overnight assaults on several security outposts.
The ambushes happened in the Musa Qala district of the volatile Helmand province.
Clashes continued for several hours into Saturday, a top regional security official, Muhammad Ismail Hotak, told reporters.
Local media says the Taliban also suffered at least 10 dead and the insurgents took several police personnel with them.
A Taliban spokesman has claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying its fighters killed as many as 25 Afghan soldiers and police officers, including a commander.
The Taliban has stepped up attacks against Afghan forces since the departure of most foreign troops last year. The Taliban's goal is to overthrow the U.S.-backed government and impose Islamist rule.
Some material for this report comes from AP and Reuters.
