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'Taleban killed' in Afghan clash 'Taleban killed' in Afghan clash
(20 minutes later)
At least 40 suspected Taleban rebels have been killed in clashes in southern Afghanistan, the US-led coalition says.At least 40 suspected Taleban rebels have been killed in clashes in southern Afghanistan, the US-led coalition says.
The rebels ambushed a joint Afghan and coalition patrol in Kandahar province, leading to a 12-hour battle, a coalition statement said.The rebels ambushed a joint Afghan and coalition patrol in Kandahar province, leading to a 12-hour battle, a coalition statement said.
The statement said the number of Taleban militants killed in the past fortnight has gone up to nearly 200.The statement said the number of Taleban militants killed in the past fortnight has gone up to nearly 200.
The Taleban said the report of fighting was "baseless". They said they had shot down an American chopper in the area. The Taleban said the report of fighting was "baseless" and that they had shot down a US helicopter.
There has been no independent confirmation of any of these claims or counter-claims.There has been no independent confirmation of any of these claims or counter-claims.
There has been an upsurge in fighting in Afghanistan over the past year, with more than 3,000 people killed in 2007.There has been an upsurge in fighting in Afghanistan over the past year, with more than 3,000 people killed in 2007.
'Unaware''Unaware'
The US military said the latest clashes took place in Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province on Wednesday.The US military said the latest clashes took place in Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province on Wednesday.
"The extremist fighters were visually observed firing on the patrol from compounds located within the villages," Reuters news agency quoted the US military statement as saying."The extremist fighters were visually observed firing on the patrol from compounds located within the villages," Reuters news agency quoted the US military statement as saying.
The Taleban said they were unaware of any ground fighting in the Shah Wali Kot district on Wednesday.The Taleban said they were unaware of any ground fighting in the Shah Wali Kot district on Wednesday.
"It is totally baseless. If the Americans had killed 200 of our mujahideen (fighters), we would have killed 50 of them as well," Reuters quoted Taleban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf as saying."It is totally baseless. If the Americans had killed 200 of our mujahideen (fighters), we would have killed 50 of them as well," Reuters quoted Taleban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf as saying.
Mr Yousuf said they had downed an American chopper in the area.Mr Yousuf said they had downed an American chopper in the area.
Nato denied a helicopter had been lost.Nato denied a helicopter had been lost.