Two Afghan government soldiers and three Taliban fighters were killed in one of the heaviestrecent attacks by remnants of Islamic militia.
The governor of Zabul province in southern Afghanistan, Mr Hamidullah Tokhi, said about 200 Taliban rebels armed with cannons, rocket launchers and other weapons attacked a government post in the remote Deh Chopan area early today.
The three-hour clash ended after he sent reinforcements to the scene.
Remnants of Taliban have stepped up attacks on forces ofthe US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai in recentmonths in the south, the bastion of the hardline militia until it was ousted in late 2001.
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Mr Tokhi said the Taliban fighters were believed to have fled to neighbouring Uruzgan province.