At least 18 policemen including an officer were killed as suspected Taliban ambushed a caravan of police in southern Helmand province Monday evening, Interior Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

"The incident took place in Bahramchah area during which 18 police including Amanullah, the security chief in charge of Helmand, lost their lives and four others wounded," Yusuf Stanikzai told Xinhua.

Four vehicles of the police were also destroyed in the bloody event.

On the other hand, Hajji Mohidin, the provincial secretary of Helmand told Xinhua that six more policemen had gone missing in the gruesome incident.

He put the attack on the enemies of peace and security a term used against Taliban militants.

Taliban militants who failed to derail the landmark Sept. 18 parliamentary elections have intensified their activities over the past couple of weeks.

The militants had also exploded three bombs two of them on a single day since the weekend in the neighboring Kandahar province killing six people and injuring nine others including two Britons.

Kandahar city also came under four rocket attacks last night but left no casualties.

Over 1,200 people including Taliban militias, government and US troops, aid workers as well as pro-government figures have been killed since beginning this year.

Source: Xinhua