Taliban attack Afghan town, 53 dead: government

KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban insurgents attacked a town in the
southern Afghan province of Helmand and 13 policemen and 40
Taliban were killed in nine hours of fighting, the province’s
deputy governor said on Thursday.

The Taliban attacked the town, Mosa Qala, on Wednesday
evening and the fighting went on until early on Thursday, the
Interior Ministry said.

Earlier, the deputy governor of Helmand said nine policemen
and at least 16 Taliban had been killed.