Matiullah Helal, acting provincial police spokesman, said 22 police were killed and at least 15 others were wounded when insurgents stormed various security posts in two districts Monday night. He said the attacks took place in the Maywand and Zhari districts and some gun battles lasted for hours. He said 45 Taliban were killed and 35 others wounded.

Naway District Gov. Sarajuddin Sarhadi said five local police were also killed at checkpoints in his district, including a post commander.

Khalid Pashtun, a member of parliament from the region, put the total number of police killed in Kandahar at 37 and 30 wounded.