November 4, 2009 Afghan policeman kill five British soldiers Play video

(NECN/ABC News: London) - In Afghanistan, five British soldiers have been killed in a sneak attack.

They were gunned down by an Afghan policeman-- who the Taliban say was one of their agents in disguise.

Six other soldiers were wounded by the gunman before he got away.

The wounded British soldiers rushed to a field hospital were lucky. Five others died when a member of the afghan police force, a force being trained by coalition troops, opened fire at a military compound in Helmund province.

The attack underscores the challenge facing President Hamid Karzai: widespread corruption in the government and a relentless insurgency now infiltrating his own forces.

"We are aware of the difficulties of our governance and the environment in which we live, we'll keep trying our best to address the questions that we have facing Afghanistan," Karzai said.

Today his main political opponent, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, said Karzai's entire government is illegal after a fraudulent election and is doomed to fail.

Just how much Karzai can handle is exactly what Pres. Obama is considering as he debates sending more U.S. troops to war - a war in which the enemy is now attacking from within.