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| Troops kill 'scores of Taleban' | Troops kill 'scores of Taleban' |
| (about 1 hour 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 on Sunday - 49 died two days earlier, including a US soldier. | It said 87 had been killed in a 14-hour battle on Sunday - 49 died two days earlier, including a US soldier. |
| There is no independent confirmation or word from the Taleban on the deaths. It would be their heaviest blow this year. | There is no independent confirmation or word from the Taleban on the deaths. It would be their heaviest blow this year. |
| Meanwhile in the southern province of Helmand, UK-led forces have launched a major offensive against the Taleban. | Meanwhile in the southern province of Helmand, UK-led forces have launched a major offensive against the Taleban. |
| Up to 3,000 Nato troops, including Afghans and US forces, are involved in Operation Silicon in the Sangin Valley. | Up to 3,000 Nato troops, including Afghans and US forces, are involved in Operation Silicon in the Sangin Valley. |
| Protests | Protests |
| The clashes in Herat are among the bloodiest the province has seen in recent years, reports say. | |
| Herat is near the border with Iran and the area has been relatively quiet until recently. | |
| The coalition statement said US special forces accompanied by police and other coalition members had been patrolling in Zerkoh valley in Shindand district 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 Zerkoh valley in Shindand district 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. |
| It said there had been no civilian casualties reported. | |
| Coalition spokesman Army Major Chris Belcher said Afghan police had taken part, but the Associated Press news agency quoted Shindand district police chief Gen Gul Aqa denying that Afghan police and army had been involved. | Coalition spokesman Army Major Chris Belcher said Afghan police had taken part, but the Associated Press news agency quoted Shindand district police chief Gen Gul Aqa denying that Afghan police and army had been involved. |
| "The Americans carried out an independent operation in the Zerkoh," he said. | "The Americans carried out an independent operation in the Zerkoh," he said. |
| He spoke as local people gathered in front of the police station and government headquarters in Shindand district chanting "Death to America!". | He spoke as local people gathered in front of the police station and government headquarters in Shindand district chanting "Death to America!". |
| Helmand fighting | Helmand fighting |
| The operation in Helmand province aims to drive Taleban fighters from the opium-producing area. | |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead said the area was a Taleban stronghold and as troops moved forward, they were facing "considerable resistance". | The BBC's Alastair Leithead said the area was a Taleban stronghold and as troops moved forward, they were facing "considerable resistance". |
| Across the country, bloodshed has returned to levels not seen since the fall of the Taleban regime in 2001. | |
| Some 4,000 people are believed to have died last year in the insurgency - about a quarter of them civilians. | 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 and another 10,000 US-led ones have been battling to reduce violence and boost the authority of President Hamid Karzai. | About 30,000 coalition troops and another 10,000 US-led ones have been battling to reduce violence and boost the authority of President Hamid Karzai. |