Eight policemen killed in Afghanistan

KUNDUZ - Eight Afghan policemen were killed and one was injured Thursday in the northern province of Kunduz when gunmen attacked them, the provincial governor said.

“Our eight brave policemen were killed and another one wounded when unknown gunmen attacked their checkpoints in the Bandar-e-Imam Sahib area of Kunduz city,” Mohammed Omer told DPA.

Only one policeman survived the attack unharmed, the governor said.

Some 41 Afghan policemen were killed and 69 wounded in insurgent attacks across the country last week, according to the interior ministry.

A spokesman for the Taliban insurgents, Zabiullah Mujihad, said from an undisclosed location that their fighters had killed nine policemen.

Violence is on the rise as both Afghan and international security forces and Taliban increase attacks.

Around 140,000 NATO and US troops are stationed in the country.