Taliban fighters kill 16 militia men

Kabul: An Afghan official says Taliban fighters killed 16 militia loyal to the government in an early morning ambush in northern Badghis province. Abdul Aziz Beg, head of the Badghis Provincial Council, says the militia force came under attack early on Thursday as they arrived to help local police, who were attacked by Taliban insurgents in the Ab Kamari district. In Kandahar province, Taliban fighters attacked a private construction firm kidnapping 13 staff and 20 security personnel.