Afghan fighting leaves 200 militants dead

Clashes between two rival Taliban groups in western Afghanistan have left at least 200 militants dead.

At least 200 militants from rival Taliban groups have been killed in four days of fighting in Afghanistan.

Several other Taliban members, as well as civilians, have been wounded in the fighting that erupted Monday in the Shindand district of Herat province, Jilani Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said on Thursday.

The casualty figures could not be independently verified.

Farhad accused both sides of looting houses and killing civilians in areas the other side previously controlled.

A ceasefire agreed to by rival Taliban factions in January has been repeatedly broken in recent days.

Shindand district was the sight last year of at least two other major firefights between rival Taliban groups.