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Afghanistan

Factbox - Security developments in Afghanistan, 17 May 2009

May 17 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Afghanistan reported by 1130 GMT on Sunday.

* Denotes new or updated items.

HELMAND - Six Afghan police were killed after a group of Taliban attacked their posts in Nahr Saraj district of southern Helmand province on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said.

* NIMROZ - Taliban killed five police in an ambush in an area of southwestern Nimroz province on Sunday, a provincial official said.

KABUL - Three Russian-made rockets were fired at the Afghan capital from the northwest, at around 1 a.m. on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said. One hit a house but did not cause any casualties, a second came down in a street and the third hit a fuel tanker, setting it on fire, but the blaze was brought swiftly under control.

URUZGAN - Six militants, including one foreigner, were killed during an operation by Afghan security forces and international troops in southern Uruzgan province, the Interior Ministry said. The operation started on Saturday, in Deh Rawood district, and continued for six hours.

ZABUL - An Afghan National Army soldier was killed and three wounded when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southeastern Zabul province, early Sunday morning, the Defence Ministry said.

ZABUL - A militant has been killed and another, Qari Saifullah, arrested after a firefight in Zabul, the Defence Ministry said. Security forces also seized guns and a motorbike.

PAKTIA - One militant was killed by Afghan security forces in eastern Paktia province. They also seized a four-wheel drive vehicle, the Defence Ministry said.

Reuters could not immediately reach the Taliban for comment about any of the reports.

(Compiled by Kabul Bureau)