Suspected Taleban fighters have attacked a government army post in the southern Afghanistan province of Helmand.

At least five soldiers were killed as they prayed late on Friday, a senior Afghan official said.

Mohammed Mohuddin said two other troops had been kidnapped by the suspected rebels who were then suspected of having fled over the border to Pakistan.

The attack took place near Choto, 300 kilometres (190 miles) south of the former Taleban stronghold of Kandahar.

Afghan and Western intelligence sources suspect that members of the Taleban and al-Qaeda may have joined forces with fighters loyal to warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to battle government troops and their US backers.

Rescue mission

Mr Mohuddin, an adviser to the governor of Helmand, said men in five vehicles attacked the soldiers during prayers.

One soldier shot during the attack was being treated at a local hospital, he said.

The Associated Press news agency reported that Kandahar's head of intelligence, Dad Mohammed, and 400 soldiers were going to the area to investigate the attack and search for the kidnapped troops.

Anti-government rebels have continued to launch attacks in Afghanistan after the overthrow of the Taleban regime by a US-led military coalition.