Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct 11, SPA -- Suspected Taliban rebelsambushed a police convoy in southern Afghanistan, killingat least 19 officers in the deadliest attack ever on thefledgling police force, authorities said Tuesday. Five other officers were missing and feared dead orkidnapped after the attack late Monday on the convoy of 150police as they drove on a dirt road along the side of amountain in Helmand province, Interior Ministry spokesmanYusuf Stanikzai said. Dozens of insurgents opened fire on the convoy, sparking agunbattle that lasted until early Tuesday, when themilitants fled into the mountains, he was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. Among the 19 dead was Helmand's deputy police chief,Stanikzai said. Four police officers were wounded and fourpolice vehicles were destroyed, he said. Security forces rushed 200 extra police officers to thearea and were searching houses and mountain caves in searchof the militants, but none was caught or killed, thespokesman said.--SPA1458 Local Time 1158 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/295624