Taliban militants attack Afghan police checkpoint in the south; 2 policemen, 1 gunmen killed

An official says Taliban militants attacked a police checkpoint in southern Afghanistan, sparking a gunbattle that killed two policemen and one of the militants.

Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the governor of Helmand province where the attack occurred, says five Taliban militants also were arrested Monday after reinforcements from a nearby checkpoint joined the fight.

Zwak says the militants attacked from two different sides in the district of Daram Ser.

Helmand remains one of the most dangerous areas in Afghanistan despite Afghan and U.S. offensives against the Islamic militant movement.