Kabul: An Afghan official says four civilians have been killed and another eight wounded during a gun-battle between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in northeastern Badakhshan province.

Asadullah Mujadedi, a district police chief there, says the battle broke out after security forces launched a clean-up operation in Badakhshan's Jurm district.

Mujahdedi says the Taliban, armed with mortars and machine gun rifles, fired from within the houses in a blistering battle that lasted throughout the day yesterday.

A statement from the Taliban today claimed significantly more civilians were killed in the firefight and blamed the government for their deaths.