KABUL, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Clash between security forces and Taliban insurgents left more than three dozen rebels dead in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, provincial governor Mohammad Akram Khapalwak said Wednesday.

    "The battle took place in Sarobi district when militants attacked government checkpoints on Tuesday and Afghan troops called in air support during which 40 enemies were killed," Khapalwak told Xinhua.

    He also said that six Afghan soldiers sustained injuries in the fire fight.

    Meantime, Salahudin Ayubi who claims to be Taliban commander in the area, told media form unknown location that only three Taliban fighters were killed in the gun battle while government troops received huge casualties.

    No independent source was immediately available to verify the claim. Warring sides in Afghanistan often exaggerate the casualties inflicted on rivals.

    Early in the day the U.S.-led Coalition forces said in a statement that over a dozen insurgents were killed in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province on Monday.