Gunmen shot dead 6 Afghan policemen

Unknown gunmen shot dead six policemen including their officer in the relatively peaceful Herat province in west Afghanistan, a Kabul-based broadcasting center reported Friday.

"Unidentified armed men opened fire on the vehicle of Mohammad Sadiq, the Police chief of Adraskan district in Herat province, Thursday evening, killing him and five of his guards," Radio liberty quoted Herat's police officials as saying.

The incident, according to the radio, occurred near Shindand district when Sadiq was going to inspect police posts.

A NATO officer who was also with Sadiq escaped unhurt, the radio added. Three more policemen were wounded in the incident.

No group or individuals have claimed responsibility. However, a senior police officer in Herat Nisar Ahmad Paikar put the attack on the enemies of Afghanistan, a term used for Taliban militants. Taliban movement has yet to make any comment.

Around 50 people mostly civilians have been killed in a series of violent incidents, including bomb attacks and infightings, in Herat province over the past two months.

Continued violence and skirmishes between militants and security forces have claimed the lives of more than 2,400 people, mostly the rebels, since beginning this year in the post-Taliban central Asian state.

Source: Xinhua