Kabul: Militants launched attacks on several check points in southern Afghanistan killing at least 20 security forces, according to a provincial official.
Gul Islam Seyal, spokesman for the provincial governor in Zabul province, said Sunday the battles began late Saturday when dozens of Taliban fighters launched coordinated attacks on security posts in the Shah Joy district. At least 10 other security forces, including national and local policemen, were wounded, he said.
Seyal said the Taliban also fired several rounds of mortars on Qalat, the provincial capital.
The Taliban did not immediately claim responsibility but they have stepped up attacks in Afghanistan since announcing their spring offensive last month.
Also on Sunday, authorities said a German woman and an Afghan security guard were killed and a Finnish woman kidnapped from a Kabul guesthouse overnight.
Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the killings took place at 11:30 p.m. local time Saturday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack or the kidnapping. He said Kabul police have begun an investigation.
Karoliina Romanoff, spokeswoman for Finnish Foreign Ministry, confirmed that a Finnish citizen was kidnapped but had no details. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement it demands "the immediate release of the kidnapped person."
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