A Taliban attack on a district headquarters in Afghanistan's northern Balkh Province has killed at least 11 police officers, Afghan officials say.
Munir Ahmad Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said the attack started early on October 1, sparking a gunbattle that is still under way around the Shortepa district headquarters.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents had overrun the district, but Farhad denied this. The spokesman said reinforcements were on their way to Shortepa.
The chief of the Balkh provincial council, Muhammad Afzel Hadid, said he feared the toll could rise further unless reinforcements arrived promptly, as the district is in a remote area.
Taliban attacks have continued during the weekend's presidential election after the collapse of talks over a peace deal between the United States and the Taliban.
With reporting by AP
