Gunbattle leaves 5 dead in eastern Afghanistan

MEHTARLAM, Afghanistan - Five people including four Taliban militants were killed in a clash in Dawlat Shah district of eastern Afghan province of Laghman on Tuesday, the provincial government said in a statement.

"A group of armed Taliban rebels stormed a security checkpoint at 02:00 am local time today but the troops returned fire during which five people including four rebels and a security personnel were killed," the statement added.

A Taliban commander named Khan Mohammad and a soldier sustained injuries, the statement said.