This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7954239.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
US-Afghan units 'kill 33 Taleban' US-Afghan units 'kill 33 Taleban'
(about 4 hours later)
The US military command in Afghanistan says Afghan and international troops have killed 33 militants in separate clashes in Helmand and Logar provinces.The US military command in Afghanistan says Afghan and international troops have killed 33 militants in separate clashes in Helmand and Logar provinces.
Troops patrolling in Helmand's Gereshk district had come under heavy gunfire, a statement said. Troops patrolling in Helmand's Gereshk district had come under heavy gunfire, and returned fire with air support, killing 30 militants.
A combined patrol returned fire with air support, it said, killing 30 militants. One Afghan soldier was hurt. In Logar, three militants died when Afghan and US troops attacked a camp.
In Logar province, three militants were killed when US and Afghan troops attacked a compound. In a separate incident, nine policemen and a district chief were killed in fighting in northern Jowzjan province.
MP killedMP killed
Helmand is one of the provinces worst hit by the Taleban insurgency.Helmand is one of the provinces worst hit by the Taleban insurgency.
Afghan troops have been involved in 'heavy fighting'
"After positively identifying the enemy fighting position and assuring there were no non-combatants in the area, the combined element returned fire... killing 30 militants," the US statement said."After positively identifying the enemy fighting position and assuring there were no non-combatants in the area, the combined element returned fire... killing 30 militants," the US statement said.
Small arms fire and close air support were used to target the militants, it added.Small arms fire and close air support were used to target the militants, it added.
The statement said that no civilians were harmed.The statement said that no civilians were harmed.
On Thursday, a prominent Afghan anti-Taleban MP was killed in a bomb attack in Helmand. Dad Mohammad Khan and four other people were killed by a roadside bomb.On Thursday, a prominent Afghan anti-Taleban MP was killed in a bomb attack in Helmand. Dad Mohammad Khan and four other people were killed by a roadside bomb.
In the second incident on Friday, three militants were killed in eastern Logar province, the US military said. Police say that the nine policemen and district chief killed in Jowzjan were involved in heavy fighting with the Taleban.
US and Afghan troops attacked a compound suspected to hold a militant cell involved in making bombs to attack Kabul. The province is on the border with Turkmenistan.
In Logar, US and Afghan troops attacked a compound suspected to hold a militant cell involved in making bombs to attack Kabul.
The US is currently finalising a new strategy for Afghanistan.The US is currently finalising a new strategy for Afghanistan.
The New York Times on Thursday reported the new administration was planning to more than double Afghanistan's national security forces to about 400,000.The New York Times on Thursday reported the new administration was planning to more than double Afghanistan's national security forces to about 400,000.
Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying another part of the new strategy would be a "civilian surge" in which hundreds of US civilian officials would be deployed nationwide to try to counter the effects of the insurgency.Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying another part of the new strategy would be a "civilian surge" in which hundreds of US civilian officials would be deployed nationwide to try to counter the effects of the insurgency.