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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Troops kill 'scores of Taleban' | Troops kill 'scores of Taleban' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nato-led forces and Afghan troops have killed scores of Taleban fighters in the western province of Herat, a coalition statement says. | Nato-led forces and Afghan troops have killed scores of Taleban fighters in the western province of Herat, a coalition statement says. |
| It said 87 had been killed in a 14-hour battle in Shindand district on Sunday - 49 died two days earlier. | It said 87 had been killed in a 14-hour battle in Shindand district on Sunday - 49 died two days earlier. |
| Herat is near the border with Iran and officials say the area has been relatively quiet until recently. | Herat is near the border with Iran and officials say the area has been relatively quiet until recently. |
| Bloodshed in Afghanistan has returned to levels not seen since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. | |
| Some 4,000 people are believed to have died last year in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians. | |
| About 30,000 coalition troops have been battling to reduce violence and boost the authority of President Hamid Karzai. | |
| 'No match' | |
| The coalition statement said US special forces accompanied by police and other coalition members had been patrolling in the valley when they attacked Taleban positions with mortar, small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. | The coalition statement said US special forces accompanied by police and other coalition members had been patrolling in the valley when they attacked Taleban positions with mortar, small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. |
| The troops called in air support which dropped "multiple munitions on several identified enemy locations". | The troops called in air support which dropped "multiple munitions on several identified enemy locations". |
| "A total of seven enemy positions were destroyed, and 87 Taleban fighters were killed during the 14-hour engagement," the statement said. | "A total of seven enemy positions were destroyed, and 87 Taleban fighters were killed during the 14-hour engagement," the statement said. |
| "Taleban fighters are no match for ANP [Afghan National Police] and coalition forces," coalition spokesman Army Major Chris Belcher, told the Associated Press news agency. | "Taleban fighters are no match for ANP [Afghan National Police] and coalition forces," coalition spokesman Army Major Chris Belcher, told the Associated Press news agency. |