GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- An insider attack claimed the lives of 23 security personnel in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province on Saturday, head of Provincial Council Nasir Ahmad Faqiri said.

"Seven local security personnel who obviously under patronage of the Taliban outfit" opened fire on their colleagues on a checkpoint in Qarabagh district, where they were asleep, killing 23 on the spot and run away with their weapons," Faqiri said.

Confirming the bloody incident, Habibullah, the district chief of Qarabagh said that the incident occurred in Liwanai Bazaar locality early on morning which also left two more security personnel wounded.

Police have yet to make comment.

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Majahid, who claims to speak for the Taliban, outfit in contact with media confirmed the incident and claimed that the insurgents in an overnight operations had killed 32 soldiers and overrun a military base in Qarabagh district of Ghazni province.