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Troops 'kill five in Afghanistan' Troops 'kill five in Afghanistan'
(about 10 hours later)
US-led coalition forces and Afghan police have shot dead five militants in a clash in southern Helmand province, a coalition statement says. US-led coalition forces and Afghan police have shot dead five militants in a clash in southern Kandahar province, a coalition statement says.
Three vehicles came speeding towards the checkpoint in Zara Kalay village and failed to stop, the statement said.Three vehicles came speeding towards the checkpoint in Zara Kalay village and failed to stop, the statement said.
Eight militants came out of the cars and started firing - troops returned fire, killing five, it said.Eight militants came out of the cars and started firing - troops returned fire, killing five, it said.
Violence has surged in recent weeks. About 4,000 people were killed in Afghanistan last year.Violence has surged in recent weeks. About 4,000 people were killed in Afghanistan last year.
ProtestsProtests
The south of the country is a stronghold of the Taleban and has seen an increasing number of attacks by insurgents over the past year.The south of the country is a stronghold of the Taleban and has seen an increasing number of attacks by insurgents over the past year.
The US-led coalition statement said the three remaining militants in the Helmand clash managed to escape. The US-led coalition statement said the three remaining militants in the Kandahar clash managed to escape.
Neither coalition forces nor Afghan police had suffered any casualties, it said. It added that there were no Afghan civilians in the vehicles used by the militants.Neither coalition forces nor Afghan police had suffered any casualties, it said. It added that there were no Afghan civilians in the vehicles used by the militants.
There have been protests by Afghans in different parts of the country in recent days over allegations that civilians have been killed in operations against the Taleban and their allies.There have been protests by Afghans in different parts of the country in recent days over allegations that civilians have been killed in operations against the Taleban and their allies.
Across Afghanistan, bloodshed has returned to levels not seen since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. A quarter of those killed last year are believed to have been civilians.Across Afghanistan, bloodshed has returned to levels not seen since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. A quarter of those killed last year are believed to have been civilians.