Afghan official says 4 soldiers killed in south

An Afghan official says four soldiers have been killed while repelling a Taliban attack on an army checkpoint in a volatile region of the southern Helmand province.

The governor's spokesman Omar Zwak says another three soldiers were wounded in the fighting late yesterday in Sangin district.

Eight insurgents were killed, he said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sangin has seen fierce fighting between government forces and the Taliban in the six months since NATO troops withdrew.

The US and NATO are formally ending their combat mission this week but will continue to provide training and support to Afghan forces.