KABUL: Three suicide attackers detonated their explosives vests during a gunbattle with Afghan and coalition forces that left 10 militants and one civilian dead in Khost province of eastern Afghanistan.

Provincial police chief Abdul Hakim Ishaqzia said the battle, which lasted several hours early Saturday morning, began after insurgents fired a rocket toward a group of Afghan and Nato forces who were preparing to go on patrol in the Sabari district.

He said the joint force killed 10 militants and arrested 12 others.

A civilian was killed and a woman and child were injured by the explosions caused by the suicide bombers.

Ishaqzia said houses in the area also were damaged by the blasts.

Weapons, a suicide vest, explosives and bomb-making equipment were found at the site.