Kabul, Oct 15 (IANS): A district governor and a policeman were killed and six injured in Afghanistan in an ambush carried out by Taliban militants, an official said Wednesday.

"The governor of Nad Ali district, Mohammad Anwar, and a policeman were killed in the attack in the country's southern province of Helmand around 11.00 p.m. Tuesday," Xinhua reported citing the provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak.

"Ali was travelling to inspect security check points in surrounding areas of the district when the attack took place," Zwak said.

"Around six policemen were also injured in the ambush," Zwak said.

The Taliban has intensified attacks over the past couple of months as the US-led international forces are withdrawing from the country.

The war-torn country is due to take over the responsibility for its own security from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) by the end of year.

More than 41,000 international coalition troops, down from 130,000 in 2010, are stationed in Afghanistan. Nearly 29,000 of them are Americans and the US plans to trim its forces to less than 10,000 next year.