(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-30 15:08

KABUL - A dozen Taliban insurgents were killed and captured as they came in contact with government troops in Afghanistan's southern Zabul province, provincial police chief Farid Zadran said Sunday.  

"The firefight took place in the wake of Taliban attack on a logistic convoy of international troops outside Zabul's provincial capital Qalat on Saturday afternoon during which eight rebels were killed and four others made captive," Zadran told Xinhua.

He also added that the international troops supported Afghan soldiers in the gun battle lasted for a while.

However, the official contended there were no casualties on Afghan and international troopers while Taliban have yet to make comment.

Conflicts and Taliban-related violence have left more than 300 people dead so far this year in war-torn Afghanistan, where Taliban militants recently have vowed to launch the "Spring Offensive" to intensify their guerrilla-style attacks on national army and foreign troops.