Militants from the ousted regime struck at the headquarters of Atghar district in Zabul province, about 340 kilometers (212 miles) southeast of Kabul, on Friday. The group of 22 Taleban had previously regrouped in the city of Quetta, over the border in southwestern Pakistan, provincial governor Khial Mohammed Hussaini told AFP. "The fighting went on for three hours and after leaving four dead the militants fled to the mountains," he said. UPDATE: Gov. Khial Mohammed identified the Taleban commander killed in the latest battle as Abdul Razzak and said he had organized many operations in the province, which has been a focus of resistance against government and US forces. He said it was not the man of the same name who served as interior minister under the former Taleban government and is believed to have taken refuge in neighboring Pakistan after the hardline movement's ouster three years ago.
The clash began when militants attacked the mayor's office in the Atghar district of Zabul, close to the Pakistani border, on Monday morning. Militia soldiers guarding the office shot dead four suspected Taleban, including Razzak, while one soldier also died, Mohammed said. The rebels withdrew before US forces arrived at the scene, leaving behind the bodies of the victims as well as assault rifles, machine-guns and grenades, the governor said.
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