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'Many Taleban killed' in clashes | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least 60 Taleban fighters have been killed in clashes with Afghan and US-led forces in southern Afghanistan, officials say. | At least 60 Taleban fighters have been killed in clashes with Afghan and US-led forces in southern Afghanistan, officials say. |
In the first incident, in the province of Helmand, coalition forces responded to a Taleban attack, claiming to have killed 50 insurgents. | |
In the second, in neighbouring Kandahar province, 10 militants were killed in clashes with Afghan troops, police say. | |
The Taleban have rejected these reports of heavy losses. | |
Coalition forces say that the battle in Helmand lasted for more than 12 hours, and followed an attack by the Taleban against an Afghan army patrol. | Coalition forces say that the battle in Helmand lasted for more than 12 hours, and followed an attack by the Taleban against an Afghan army patrol. |
Conflicting claims | Conflicting claims |
"During the course of the battle, the insurgents attacked from 16 separate compounds using heavy machine-guns, rocket propelled grenades and small-arms weapons," a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force said. | |
Coalition forces have come under increased attack Taleban commander 'shot dead' | |
"The Afghan national security forces and coalition forces immediately returned fire and called in close air support to destroy the enemy fighters within the compounds." | "The Afghan national security forces and coalition forces immediately returned fire and called in close air support to destroy the enemy fighters within the compounds." |
The statement claims no civilians were killed during the battle, but local people told a BBC reporter that most of the dead were women and children. | The statement claims no civilians were killed during the battle, but local people told a BBC reporter that most of the dead were women and children. |
Reports of heavy Taleban losses were denied by one of their spokesmen, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, who said that only one Taleban fighter was killed and three others injured. | |
The clashes happened near the town of Musa Qala, which has been the scene of some of the most hard fought and deadly battles in recent months. | The clashes happened near the town of Musa Qala, which has been the scene of some of the most hard fought and deadly battles in recent months. |
Taleban campaign | Taleban campaign |
Musa Qala has been a Taleban stronghold since October 2006, when UK troops withdrew from the town in a deal brokered by local tribal elders with the militants. British forces say the Taleban broke the deal and overran the town. | Musa Qala has been a Taleban stronghold since October 2006, when UK troops withdrew from the town in a deal brokered by local tribal elders with the militants. British forces say the Taleban broke the deal and overran the town. |
In the second of Thursday's incidents, insurgents ambushed a patrol of the Afghan National Army in the province of Kandahar, a statement by the Combined Joint Task Force says. | In the second of Thursday's incidents, insurgents ambushed a patrol of the Afghan National Army in the province of Kandahar, a statement by the Combined Joint Task Force says. |
According to the police, 10 Taleban fighters and a policeman were killed. | According to the police, 10 Taleban fighters and a policeman were killed. |
Violence has risen sharply in the last two months, as Taleban attacks on Afghan and US-led forces have increased, as part of their summer offensive. | Violence has risen sharply in the last two months, as Taleban attacks on Afghan and US-led forces have increased, as part of their summer offensive. |
Many of those killed have been militants, but the death toll among civilian and coalition forces has also risen. | Many of those killed have been militants, but the death toll among civilian and coalition forces has also risen. |
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