KABUL, Jan. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Suspected Taliban militants attacked the staff of the American security firm USPI (U.S. Protection and Investigations) and snatched their vehicle in the troubled southern Helmand province on Sunday, a local official said.

    "Taliban militants attacked the staff of USPI company and snatched the vehicle of USPI from Herat-Kandahar highway near Grishk district this morning and drove towards the nearby mountains," the district police chief Haji Khan Mohammad told Xinhua.

    He however said that the police were able to chase the militants and secure the release of all the five including a child.

    "Police secured their safe release at 1:30 p.m. (0930 GMT),"said Khan Mohammad.

    On the other hand, Taliban's purported spokesman Qari YusufAhmadi rejected the police's claim, saying the militants attacked the vehicle upon report of some foreigners inside, but set the five free as they were Afghans.

    The five Afghans, including three employees of the company were going to a wedding party when the incident happened.

    The private American firm USPI has been providing guards to companies and organizations working in Afghanistan. Enditem