Gun battle leaves 13 dead including 5 police in N. Afghanistan

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people including five police officers and eight militants have been killed as a clash erupted in Imam Sahib district of northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province on Friday, head of Provincial Council Mohammed Yusuf Ayubi said.

The clash broke out after a group of Taliban militants stormed a checkpoint of local police in Joi Begam area in the restive district on early morning, triggering a two-hour gun battle and leaving 13 dead, the official added.

Security forces, according to the official, have launched cleanup operations to get the area cleaned of the insurgents.

The Taliban militants haven't commented.