World Bulletin/News Desk

Dozens of Taliban gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Afghan checkpoints in the south on Tuesday, killing at least six Afghan policemen, officials said, adding that a clash was going on.

Seven policemen were wounded in the attack in Helmand province, provincial governor spokesman Omar Zwak said. It was the latest Taliban assault this year involving many militants attacking Afghan forces.

Accounts of how many gunmen were involved in the attacks on the posts varied.

Zwak said up to 1,000 militants were involved but NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said there were 10 groups of 4-5 fighters each. ISAF said in a statement that the militants conducted drive-by shootings at checkpoints.

Zwak said 25 Taliban members were killed.

"The insurgents want to occupy the area," Zwak said of the attack, which took place in Sangin district, just south of Kajaki, a strategically important district where U.S. Marines have battled hard against Taliban.