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Nato 'kills' Taleban commander Nato 'kills Taleban commander'
(about 8 hours later)
A senior Taleban commander has been killed in Afghanistan, along with a number of civilians in a Nato air strike, according to some reports. UK forces in Afghanistan say a senior Taleban commander has been killed in a Nato air strike in which locals said a number of civilians also died.
The International Security Assistance Force said a precision strike was launched on a compound in Helmand province with no "collateral damage". The Taleban figure was Mullah Manan, who UK forces said was in the top tier of leadership and had been behind a large number of attacks.
Local people told the BBC that 15 people had been killed - eight of them Taleban, but the rest were civilians. Ten to 15 other Taleban were killed in what the UK forces called a "precision strike" in southern Helmand province.
They told the BBC that the senior Taleban commander was Mullah Manan. Locals said about seven civilians died but this could not be confirmed.
Dam project
The attack happened at about 0330 local time in a village called Lower Jal-jay, between two towns where British forces in Helmand have been fighting the Taleban.The attack happened at about 0330 local time in a village called Lower Jal-jay, between two towns where British forces in Helmand have been fighting the Taleban.
Villagers said bodies had been recovered from the rubble, according to the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul. Lt Col Rory Bruce, spokesman for the UK Task Force in the province, said Mullah Manan was a "Tier One" figure - an ideological fighter with links to the main Taleban leadership.
'No collateral damage' Col Bruce said troops had been tracking him for a number of weeks.
A spokesman for the UK Task Force said a "known Taleban leader" had been killed in a precision air strike in an isolated compound, but would not name him. Mullah Manan was thought to be involved in the uprising in Musa Qala, a town nearby which British troops held, but is now controlled by the Taleban after a peace deal with elders broke down.
He added that there was no collateral damage and no civilians had been killed.
There has been heavy fighting in the Kajaki area of Helmand, where British forces are protecting a major dam reconstruction project.There has been heavy fighting in the Kajaki area of Helmand, where British forces are protecting a major dam reconstruction project.
Nato also said the dead commander had been linked to the uprising in Musa Qala, a town nearby which British troops held, but is now controlled by the Taleban after a peace deal with elders broke down. Helmand has seen the most intense fighting between Nato forces and the Taleban this year, with many of its districts out of government control.
Helmand has seen the most intense fighting between Nato forces and the Taleban this year with many of its districts out of government control. The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says Mullah Manan's death will be a step forward for Nato forces in Helmand, where Taleban reinforcements are thought to be gathering.
Earlier this week, the governor of Helmand province said up to 700 insurgents had crossed over from Pakistan and were preparing to fight British forces. Earlier this week, the governor of the province said up to 700 insurgents had crossed over from Pakistan and were preparing to fight British forces.