At Least 18 Police Officers Killed By Taliban in Afghanistan

In the northern Badakhshan province

At least 18 Afghan police officers have been killed and 13 wounded in a Taliban ambush in northern Badakhshan province, the interior ministry says.

The police were in Wardooj district and on their way back to the provincial capital after an anti-insurgent operation when they came under attack.

Although the mountainous north-east is relatively peaceful, Wardooj district has become increasingly volatile.

The Taliban said that they had carried out the attack.

In a statement they said that they had taken weapons and vehicles in the attack, and had handed over some of the bodies to tribal elders.