Fifteen Taliban militants and three policemen were killed in a clash in the southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, an official told Xinhua on Monday.

The clash occurred Sunday night when the militants attacked the center of Garmser district, said Nabi Jan Mullhakhil, the provincial police chief, adding 15 Taliban rebels were killed including a local commander Mullah Satar and 10 others injured.

Three policemen were also killed and eight wounded in the 5- hour fierce conflict, Mullhakhil said, adding the militants had escaped and the district center had returned clam.

However, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said 16 policemen were killed in the clash, and only two Taliban militants lost their lives.

He also claimed the Taliban fighters occupied the district's major government building overnight and set fire on it before retreating.

Later information has often proved the Taliban intends to exaggerate the casualties and damages it inflicts on government and foreign targets.

Garmser district, locating in eastern Helmand, has been attacked frequently by Taliban insurgents in the past months.

Four Taliban rebels and one policeman were killed in a clash in the district on Friday night when the rebels attacked the major government building.

Taliban insurgents occupied the center of Garmser district on July 17, but Afghan and the U.S.-led coalition forces took it back two days later.

Helmand, famous for its gigantic opium product and rising violence, is a stronghold of Taliban militants, who attack government and foreign targets frequently.

Afghanistan is suffering from a rise of Taliban-linked insurgence this year, during which over 2,100 persons, mostly Taliban rebels, have been killed.

Source: Xinhua