Kabul, Afghanistan ? Rebels killed seven police officers and abducted two after ambushing them on a road in southern Afghanistan, while two villagers were abducted and beheaded, officials said Thursday.

The police were driving in three vehicles on a road toward Kandahar, the former Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, when they were attacked Wednesday in Shah Wali Kot district, said Jan Mohammed Khan, a local governor.

Police in one of the vehicles fought back and managed to flee, but the two other vehicles were hit by rockets, he said.