KHOST, Afghanistan, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A clash between security forces and anti-government militants claimed the lives of four civilians in Nadir Shahkot district of Afghanistan's eastern Khost province on Saturday night, deputy to provincial police chief, Abdul Hanan said Sunday.

The clash, according to the official, erupted in Zini Khilzari village Saturday night during which four civilians including two women were killed.

To register their protest, the villagers took the coffins of the murdered civilians to provincial capital Khost city and asked the government to bring to justice those behind the murder.

Parts of Khost province have been the scene of Taliban-led militancy over the past few years.