Six Killed in Militant Siege on Afghan Mosque

Two heavily armed Taliban gunmen stormed a mosque in southern Afghanistan Wednesday, officials said, killing at least six people in a fight with security forces that lasted several hours and ended with their deaths.

The incident took place in Lashkar Gah, the capital of the volatile poppy-rich province of Helmand, the latest attack in the militants' annual spring offensive that they have waged since being ousted from power in late 2001.

"Six people including three police were killed and 12 wounded," Mohammad Jan Rasolyar the deputy provincial governor told AFP. 

Padsha Gul Bakhtyar, the province's deputy police chief confirmed the toll and said the attackers, who were disguised in police uniform, had arrived by motorcycle. 

"They first tried to enter the governor's building, but after police prevented them they entered a mosque and started firing at religious scholars who were attending a meeting in a nearby building," he said. 

He said at least two of the victims were members of the Ulema Council of Helmand, a top religious authority in the province.

The Taliban, who have waged a 13-year war to topple the U.S.-backed Afghan government claimed responsibility for the attack.

Taliban insurgents launched their spring offensive across Afghanistan late last month, stepping up attacks on government and foreign targets.

This year's offensive marks the first fighting season in which Afghan forces are battling the insurgents without the full support of U.S.-led foreign combat troops.

NATO's combat mission formally ended in December but a small follow-up foreign force has stayed on to train and support local security personnel.