Taliban militants attacked Thursday a convoy carrying supplies for international troops in Afghanistan, killing 10 Afghan guards, officials said.
The convoy of trucks was attacked by dozens of militants on the main highway between Kabul and southern Kandahar city in Zabul province.
About 80 private security guards escorting the convoy fought the militants near provincial capital Qalat, an official from the security company said.
"I've lost 10 guards," official Mohammad Saleem said.
"It was very intense fighting. It lasted two hours and we were under siege by Taliban," Saleem said.
Another company employee, who identified himself only as Abdullah, confirmed the fighting occurred after the rebels ambushed their convoy.
The convoy had earlier left Bagram Air Base — the main US-led military base — north of the capital Kabul and was heading to Kandahar.
A highway police officer, Ghulam Jailani, said police reinforcements had been sent to the area after the fighting.
Taliban are leading a bloody insurgency against the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai and foreign forces as well as those working for them.
The insurgency has increased in the past two years claiming thousands of lives but mainly those of rebels.
