KABUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Two Afghan police were killed and seven others, including three policemen, wounded as militants stormed a checkpoint in the southeast Khost province Monday night, police spokesman in the province confirmed Tuesday.

    "Enemies attacked a police post last night in Yaqubi district killing two policemen and injuring three others," Wazir Badshah told Xinhua.

    Four more people including a woman were also wounded during the exchange of fire, he added.

    In retaliation, government troops launched a counter operation in the area and so far one militant was killed and 13 others have been arrested, he added.

    Khost along the border with Pakistan's tribal area is considered a stronghold of Taliban-linked militants in the southeast Afghanistan where hundreds of the remnants of the former regime are said to have hidden.

    Afghan and U.S. military operations in the area claimed the lives of four militants early last week while a roadside bomb on Canadian troops in southern Kandahar province wounded two soldiers Monday.

    Over 300 people including 25 American soldiers have lost their lives in Taliban-linked insurgency since the beginning of 2006. Enditem