U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan mistakenly killed seven policemen in an air strike after Afghan forces came under attack from the Taliban and asked for help, a provincial official said on Tuesday.

Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent months but a threatened Taliban offensive has not materialized. Last year was the bloodiest in Afghanistan since U.S.-led forces removed the Taliban in 2001.

The air strike came after the Taliban stormed police posts late on Monday in Khogiani district of the eastern province of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, district police chief Adel Balwal told Reuters.

A U.S. military spokesman said he was aware of the raid but had no other details.

Thirteen policemen were missing, Balwal added.

If the deaths are confirmed, the incident would be one of the most serious cases of mistaken fire on Western or Afghan security forces by the U.S.-led coalition force.

A Taliban spokesman said by telephone from an undisclosed location the militants had killed 12 policemen.

About 50,000 foreign troops led by the U.S. military and NATO are in Afghanistan, battling a resurgent Taliban and their al Qaeda allies.
sections: Politics, Accidents