Accounts vary on Afghan police deaths

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Conflicting reports surround the deaths of 20 Afghan National Police officers shot outside the home of an Afghan government leader, officials said Thursday.

Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Helmand provincial governor, said the men died when ambushed by Taliban militants, but the Afghan National Army said the deaths resulted from a dispute among the bodyguards, CNN reported.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force, stressing it wasn't involved in the incident, said it agreed with the army's report after NATO troops arrived at the scene.

Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary told CNN police fought with "enemies of security" Wednesday, resulting in the deaths.

Ahmadi, meanwhile, maintained Taliban militants ambushed the police officials, noting that there were dead Taliban fighters at the scene. Also, the mother of one police officer was killed as she reportedly begged for her son's life, he said.

The attack occurred at the home of Mullah Abdul Salaam, commissioner of Musa Qala district, who was in Kabul at the time. His home is located in the neighboring district of Kajaki.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry reported a British marine died Wednesday in an explosion in the Sangin district of Helmand province while on patrol.