Kunduz (Afghanistan), Aug 12 (DPA) Taliban militants attacked a district centre in northern Afghanistan, killing four police officers including a police chief, local government officials and a rebel spokesman said Wednesday.

Noor Khan, police chief of Dasht Archi district in northern Kunduz province and brother of Mohammad Omar, the provincial governor, was killed along with his three bodyguards in a Taliban attack Tuesday night, said Shaikh Sahdi, administrative chief of Dasht Archi.

'Unfortunately our brave officer along with his three loyal bodyguards were killed in the attack, but the Taliban escaped from the area before reinforcements were deployed,' Sahdi told DPA by phone from the district.

He said the police also inflicted casualties on the Taliban, but could not provide any figures.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed that their fighters overran the whole district for a few hours before withdrawing to their bases in the province.