Afghanistan ? Police fled a western Afghanistan town Monday for a forest. They suspect Taliban militants briefly moved in for about 30 minutes, seizing three vehicles before leaving, said Gov. Muhajuddin Baluch.

The police retreat followed Sunday’s bombing of a car carrying the province’s police chief on his return from destroying poppy fields. The police chief was unharmed, but four other officers in the vehicle were killed and two wounded. Khan blamed Taliban militants for the attack, saying they were involved in the drug trade; he gave no evidence to support his claim.

The U.S. military said a soldier was killed Monday in fighting near Naray, in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar. No other details were released.