Nato forces battle Afghan police
Firefights broke out between Nato forces and Afghan police in two parts of Afghanistan overnight, with four Afghan officers killed in one of the incidents, officials said today.
In southern Kandahar province, Afghan police and Nato troops clashed in Arghandab district - a farming community just outside Kandahar city, said Shah Mohammad, the top official for the district.
He said four Afghan police officers were killed and four others injured.
It was not clear what started the firefight and Mr Mohammad said investigators had been dispatched to the scene.
"Right now we only have this very sad news from there," he said.
A Nato spokesman confirmed there had been "an incident" in Arghandab, but did not provide further details.
Captain Justin Brockhoff said more details would become available after an investigation.
Meanwhile, in the eastern province of Ghazni, Nato forces fought briefly with Afghan police manning a checkpoint in Ghazni city before the two groups realised the mistake.
The Nato troops approached the checkpoint while on a night-time patrol through the area, provincial Police Chief General Zarawar Zahid said.
The Afghan police saw armed men and asked them to stop and started firing when the Nato troops did not, he said.
The exchange of gunfire lasted about 15 minutes and no Nato or Afghan forces were killed, Capt Brockhoff said. He said an investigation had also been launched into that incident.
Meanwhile, a police inspector was shot dead in Kandahar city by unknown gunmen last night, said Deputy Police Chief Shershah Yousafzai.
He said they suspected he was killed by militants. The Taliban has repeatedly targeted Afghan forces and police.
