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Rebels killed in Afghan clashes | |
(about 10 hours later) | |
At least 40 suspected Taleban rebels have been killed in clashes around Afghanistan, the US-led coalition says. | |
It says almost two dozen militants were killed in a fierce fighting on Friday in the southern Helmand province. | |
Also on Friday, more than 20 fighters died in the north-eastern Nuristan province, and several more in the central Ghazni province, it says. | |
There has been an upsurge in fighting in Afghanistan over the past year, with more than 3,000 people killed in 2007. | There has been an upsurge in fighting in Afghanistan over the past year, with more than 3,000 people killed in 2007. |
Patrol ambushed | |
In Helmand, the combined force was on a combat patrol in the Musa Qala district when the insurgents struck, the coalition said in a statement. | |
Aircraft were called in to fight the rebels, who attacked with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and guns. | |
"In the fight that ensued, almost two dozen insurgents were killed," the statement said. | |
It said that no Afghan or international forces or civilians were killed during the latest clash. | It said that no Afghan or international forces or civilians were killed during the latest clash. |
The district has been the scene of some of the most hard fought and deadly battles in recent months. | The district has been the scene of some of the most hard fought and deadly battles in recent months. |
Musa Qala - the main town in the area - has been a Taleban stronghold since October 2006, when UK troops withdrew from the town in a deal brokered by local tribal elders with the militants. | Musa Qala - the main town in the area - has been a Taleban stronghold since October 2006, when UK troops withdrew from the town in a deal brokered by local tribal elders with the militants. |
Taleban claims | |
In Nuristan, more than 20 militants were killed in an air and ground assault by US-led troops and Afghan security forces, the coalition said separately. | |
It said the operation targeted mountainous areas, used by insurgents to cross between Afghanistan and Pakistan. | |
One coalition soldier was injured during the operation. | |
A Taleban spokesman said that 40 civilians were killed in Nuristan, but the coalition said it had no reports of non-combatant casualties. | |
In Ghazni, the coalition said its targeted a militant accused of helping foreign fighters to move around Afghanistan. | |
It did not say if the militant was among those killed in the operation. |