Taliban forces attack checkpoint, killing 13

The Taliban launched an attack early yesterday on a new joint Afghan army and police checkpoint in eastern Ghazni province, killing at least 13 soldiers and policemen, according to a provincial official. Afghan reinforcements were sent to the site of the attack in Khogyani district but were repeatedly ambushed along the way. The assault came as a resurgent Taliban hold nearly half of Afghanistan, with near-daily attacks on Afghan security forces. Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor in Ghazni, said seven soldiers and six policemen were killed. Four soldiers were also wounded in the attack, while six insurgents were killed and more than 10 wounded in an ensuing battle with Afghan forces.