KABUL, Afghanistan, Sha'ban 28, 1433, Jul 18, 2012, SPA - Afghan officials say insurgents attacked a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan, killing nine Afghan soldiers and wounding seven others. The Helmand provincial governor's office says the Afghan soldiers died Tuesday night when armed militants attacked an Afghan National Army checkpoint in Washer district. Seven insurgents were killed in the attack, according to a report of the Associated Press. Also in Helmand, insurgents clashed Tuesday night with Afghan police in Nad Ali district. An insurgent commander was killed and six other militants were captured during the battle. --SPA 15:01 LOCAL TIME 12:01 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1016464