KABUL, July 11, 2009 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants have captured a district in Nuristan province in east Afghanistan, a local newspaper reported Saturday.

"Taliban fighters overrun Bargimatal district on Thursday night after days of fierce clashes with police force there," said a Saturday's report on the Daily Rah-e-Nejat.

The report quoted provincial governor Jamaludin Badar as saying that the district fell to Taliban insurgents after three days of fighting and the government's negligence.

Badar had called for reinforcement but the authorities paid little attention, the report said.

"Some 27 militants, including their commander and eight police personnel were killed in the clashes," the governor told the newspaper.

Taliban made this achievement while a massive offensive, involving 4,000 U.S. Marines and 650 Afghan troops, has been going on since July 2 to restore government authorities in Taliban-held territories.