by Zhang Yunlong

    KABUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Five Taliban were killed by an unexpected blast of their own mine on a road in Musa Qala district of southern Afghanistan Friday while a group of Taliban militants launched fierce attacks on several police posts in the region, an official said.

    A pre-mature mine blast killed five Taliban as a group of militants were planting mines Friday on a main road frequented by Afghan and international forces in Musa Qala of Helmand province, provincial police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal said.

    "Apparently the mine they were planting is to target Afghan and foreign troops who often patrol on the road," Andiwal told Xinhua.

    He said four bodies of the killed militants were destroyed in the blast which occurred as early as 7 a.m. local time.

    Furthermore, a "large number" of Taliban militants began attacking police posts in Takh Tapol area of Musa Qala district Friday noon and the hours-long fighting "is still going on", Andiwal said during an evening talk with Xinhua via phone.

    He said two Taliban, including one injured, were arrested by the police.

    A Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said around 500 Taliban fighters were involved in the fighting with the police, which later was joined by Afghan and foreign forces. He said eight police posts were already destroyed by the militants and the police there escaped.

    A 10-month long Taliban control over Musa Qala ended last December when Afghan troops backed by international force during a major offensive recaptured the district, which is said to be with extreme strategic significance in Helmand, a known hotbed of Taliban-led militancy. However, the regained district has been the scene of increasing violent incidents over the months.

    Six and half years on from Taliban regime collapse in 2001, Afghanistan, especially its remote southern and eastern region, has still been in the grip of spiraling violence. Insurgency-related fighting and bombings left 8,000 people dead in Afghanistan in 2007, a record high since 2001.

    The Taliban militants, who, according to NATO military, have lost capability to confront Afghan and NATO troops directly, vowed to intensify guerrilla-style attacks this year, which usually come out in forms of bombings and ambushes.