KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Oct 12, 2008 (AFP) - Between 40 and 60 Taliban were killed in military action, including air strikes, after they attacked security forces in southern Afghanistan, police and the NATO-led force said Sunday.

The militants had attacked an Afghan security force base on the outskirts of the town of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the volatile southern province of Helmand, they said.

Helmand police said its estimates were that 64 attackers were killed in the fighting. NATO's International Security Assistance Force said its reports were that 42 were killed. It is impossible to independently verify the figures.