KABUL, September 24 (RIA Novosti) - At least 10 Afghan militants from two opposing rival groups died in a shootout that lasted several hours in the country's western province of Herat, a police spokesman said on Thursday.

The fighting took place in the city of Guzara, 10 kilometers to the south of the province's capital also called Herat.

There were no details released on the cause of the fighting.

In a separate incident on Thursday, armed gunmen shot dead former Jihad commander Mullah Abdul Rauf in Baghlan province.

"Mullah Abdul Rauf was on his way to provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri when unidentified men opened fire on his car in Ainal area, killing him on the spot and injuring two others including his son," Xinhua news agency quoted police officer Abdul Hai Ramzi as saying.

Dozens of former Jihad leaders who have fought against the Taliban have been killed in the last two years.