Afghanistan: Suicide bombs target police in Paktika

Two suicide bombers have attacked a police HQ in Afghanistan's south-eastern Paktika province, officials say, killing at least 12 officers.

A Taliban spokesman said its fighters had carried out the attack, which also injured at least 13 policemen.

The suicide bombers reportedly detonated devices in the compound of the regional police headquarters.

Paktika, which borders Pakistan, has been the target of numerous attacks from insurgents.

The BBC's Paul Wood in Kabul says that as Nato pursues offensives in Helmand and Kandahar, other parts of Afghanistan have become more violent.

Both attackers were dressed as police officers and entered the main police compound some 20 minutes apart.

They made it through three security checkpoints on the roads outside before reaching the main police headquarters.

One attacker detonated his explosives inside the building, another one near the entrance.

Nawab Waziry, the head of Paktika's provincial council, told Associated Press news agency: "There are lots of casualties. The site was covered with blood."

The Paktika region has been the target of many US drone attacks on insurgents.

Nato forces also killed 19 Taliban fighters who attacked an outpost in the province in October.

In May a group of suicide bombers attacked a police base in Urgun district. At least one policeman and four militants were killed.