The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Kabul

Dozens of Taliban fighters and suicide bombers attacked a US military base in eastern Afghanistan early Tuesday and at least 13 were killed, some in their own suicide blasts, Afghan officials said.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force confirmed that Camp Salerno in the eastern town of Khost, 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border with Pakistan, had been attacked but could give few details.

"We have heard about suicide bombers on foot. They are receiving indirect fire," an officer in the ISAF media office in Kabul told AFP, referring to rocket and artillery fire.

He said he could not give more information because fighting was ongoing.

A suicide car bomb at the base on Monday killed 10 Afghan labourers waiting outside.

Afghan defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said 15 "terrorists" had attacked the base early Tuesday.

"Our commando units were deployed into the area and engaged the attackers and pushed them back," he told AFP.

"So far 13 attackers have been killed. Six blew themselves up, six others died in the explosions and one died in gunfire from commandos. Their bodies have been recovered," Azimi said.