KABUL, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Clash between Taliban insurgents and afghan police in Afghanistan eastern Paktika province left six persons including four civilians and two militants dead, police said Sunday.

    "The battle took place Saturday evening when Taliban raided a police checkpoint and police returned fire killing two insurgents both of them group commanders," provincial police chief Nabi Jan Mullahkhil told Xinhua.

    Four more civilians were killed in fire exchange, he further said.

    Meanwhile, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mjuahid in talks with media said five policemen and one militant lost their lives in the gun battle lasted for a while.

    Militancy and Taliban-related violence have left more than 450 people mostly civilians dead so far this year in Afghanistan.