Afghanistan: 10 killed in militant attack

Militants attacked a government compound in eastern Afghanistan before dawn Friday, killing 10 during an hours-long gun battle.

Reports say there were upwards of 17 militants in all who took part in the attack on the compound in Nuristan province's Kamdesh district around 3 a.m. local time.

According to the Associated Press, no one immediately took responsibility for the firefight, but it matched the pattern of Taliban assaults that usually target Afghan government buildings.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in an email to Agence France-Presse that they were behind the attack.

"More than 20 insurgents were killed and as many injured in the counter attack, their bodies still lay in the battlefield," said provincial spokesman Mohammad Zarin, according to AFP.

There were four suicide bombers among the attackers who tried to target the house of the local police chief, reported AFP. Those killed in the fighting were six Afghan policemen and four civilians, including the wife of a local police officer. Dozens of houses were also burned down during the clashes.

More from GlobalPost: Afghanistan: Up to 17 killed in Taliban attack on lake resort near Kabul

According to the AP, the son of the district government administrator was among the dead.

Kamdesh district is in a remote mountainous area of the province near the Pakistani border, reported the AP. It is a difficult region for Afghan security forces to monitor.