Gunmen tried to assassinate the Afghan defence minister today by shooting at his convoy at Kabul's main airport, but he already had left his vehicle and was unhurt, a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Some 2,000 Afghan security forces rushed to an eastern province today after dozens of suspected Taliban rebels wearing army uniforms killed eight police and soldiers in an attack on a region that has been largely peaceful in recent months, officials said.

Fierce fighting in recent months has devastated the ranks of the Taliban, prompting the rebels to recruit children and force some families to provide one son to fight with them, a US commander said.