QALAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least eight Afghan police personnel, including a district police chief, were killed in clashes in southern province of Zabul overnight, a provincial source said Sunday.

In one incident, police chief of Mizan district Asad Khan was killed during clashes following a Taliban attack on district's government offices and surrounding security checkpoints late Saturday night, the source said anonymously.

In neighboring Shahr-i-Safa locality, seven police officers were killed in a similar incident as they repulsed a Taliban attack on police security checkpoints.

Several militants were also killed and injured during the clashes, the source said.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, has claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying three Taliban fighters were wounded in the fighting.

The violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by militants as the country is preparing for parliamentary elections slated for Oct. 20.

During the upcoming polls, nearly 9 million registered voters, including 3 million women, will cast their ballots to elect members of the 249-seat lower house of parliament for a five-year term while election officials recently canceled district councils election which was expected to be held together with the parliamentary polls.