Gun battle kills 7, wounds 9 in northern Afghan province

SARI PUL, Afghanistan, March 2 (Xinhua) -- At least seven Taliban militants were killed and five others injured as a gun battle erupted in the northern Sari Pul province, an Afghan army spokesman in the northern region said on Saturday.

The clash broke out after the Taliban militants attacked a military convoy in Duaba area of Sangcharak district Friday afternoon, triggering a gun battle which lasted for four hours, said army spokesman Mohammad Hanif Rezai.

The militants fled after leaving seven bodies behind.

Four security personnel and five militants were also injured in the firefight, the spokesman added.

Taliban militants have not commented on the report.