KABUL, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Afghan government repulsed Taliban militants and regained the control of a district in western Farah province Monday, spokesman of Defense Ministry Zahir Azimi said.

    "Anti-government militants took over the control of Khak-e-Safid district Sunday but our troops retook it at 5 a.m. this morning," Azimi told Xinhua.

    There were no casualties on either side, he added.

    Blaming the absence of police for the fall of the district to militants, Azimi added only five policemen were on duty when the rebels overran Khak-e-Safid.

    The takeover occurred during Eid al-Adha holidays.

    Eid al-Adha, the biggest annual religious festival, began Saturday and the government employees enjoy three-day holidays.

    Taliban also briefly took over the control of two districts in the western Farah and southern Uruzgan provinces a few months ago but lost to the government again.

    NATO and Afghan officials predict more insurgency in 2007 but believe it would not undermine the security in the war-ravaged country.

    Nearly 4,000 people, mostly militants, were killed in the past year.