The Taliban and NATO and Afghan forces have engaged in fierce fighting lately across the province.

A statement Tuesday from the office of Helmand's governor, Gulab Mangal, says the latest clashes took place late Monday in central and northern Helmand.

It says 22 insurgents were killed in the fighting in the two separate locations. Two Afghan police officers were also killed and eight insurgents were wounded in one of the clashes.

The statement also says that two boys died in a separate incident in Helmand after stepping on a roadside bomb.