Afghan officials say NATO and Afghan troops killed 17 militants during a joint operation in the country's south.

The Defense Ministry says Monday the fighting took place Sunday in Helmand province.

In other violence, Afghan officials say four policemen were killed Sunday when Taliban militants ambushed a police station in central Ghazni province.

The French news agency quotes a local official as saying dozens of Taliban fighters were killed in an ensuing battle.

Also, the U.S. military says its troops killed several militants and captured one during an operation in the northern Baghlan province.

The military says the captured militant was responsible for bomb attacks on troops.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.