About 100 Taliban stormed a remote police post, sparking lengthy exchanges which left 10 militants and a policeman dead, while four rebels died elsewhere, officialssaidyesterday.

After 11 hours of fighting overnight in the western province of Farah, the attackers left three bodies at the scene and took the rest with them, provincial police operations chief Juma Khan told AFP.

"Ten Taliban were killed, 10 Taliban were wounded and a policeman was also martyred in the battle," Khan said.

In another incident on Monday, four Taliban were killed when Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) ambushed them in the eastern province of Paktika.

"Isaf ambushed the Taliban as they crossed into Afghanistan from Pakistan. Their bodies were brought to the provincial capital,” said army spokesman Colonel Mohammad Gul said.