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| Nato kills 94 'Taleban fighters' | Nato kills 94 'Taleban fighters' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nato and Afghan forces have killed 94 Taleban fighters in intense overnight clashes in southern Afghanistan, the military alliance says. | Nato and Afghan forces have killed 94 Taleban fighters in intense overnight clashes in southern Afghanistan, the military alliance says. |
| Ground troops, backed up by air support, fought four battles in Kandahar province, Nato said. | Ground troops, backed up by air support, fought four battles in Kandahar province, Nato said. |
| It is part of Operation Medusa, which Nato says has killed 420 insurgents since it began more than a week ago. | It is part of Operation Medusa, which Nato says has killed 420 insurgents since it began more than a week ago. |
| In a separate incident in the east of the country, a provincial governor was killed in a suicide bomb attack. | In a separate incident in the east of the country, a provincial governor was killed in a suicide bomb attack. |
| Paktia Governor, Hakim Taniwal, was in a car leaving his office in the provincial capital Gardez when he was targeted by the bomber with explosives attached to his body. | Paktia Governor, Hakim Taniwal, was in a car leaving his office in the provincial capital Gardez when he was targeted by the bomber with explosives attached to his body. |
| Governor Taniwal is the highest-ranking Afghan official to be killed | Governor Taniwal is the highest-ranking Afghan official to be killed |
| A bodyguard and driver were also killed in the attack, for which the Taleban has claimed responsibility. | A bodyguard and driver were also killed in the attack, for which the Taleban has claimed responsibility. |
| Governor Taniwal is the highest-ranking Afghan official to be killed since the Taleban insurgency began. | Governor Taniwal is the highest-ranking Afghan official to be killed since the Taleban insurgency began. |
| The head of the UN assistance operation in Gardez, capital of Paktia province, Thomas Gregg, told the BBCWorld Service's Newshour programme the governor's death was a major setback. | |
| "In many ways, it was Governor Taniwal's positive attributes that made him a target," Thomas Gregg said. | |
| "He was professional, he was honest, and he was a hard working public servant. And despite holding Australian citizenship, he had left his family in Australia and returned to Afghanistan to participate in its rebuilding. | |
| "It's a ... very sad day for both Afghanistan and the international community. He was a fine leader." | |
| 'Other elements' | |
| The latest fighting in southern Afghanistan took place in the Taleban stronghold of Panjwayi and neighbouring Zhari district, not far from Kandahar city. | The latest fighting in southern Afghanistan took place in the Taleban stronghold of Panjwayi and neighbouring Zhari district, not far from Kandahar city. |
| Nato said insurgents suffered further casualties when a counterattack was intercepted. | Nato said insurgents suffered further casualties when a counterattack was intercepted. |
| Nato spokesman Maj Toby Jackson said that while the insurgents were primarily Taleban there were other elements involved. | |
| "There are elements involved from internal, other, groups within Afghanistan, who are resisting the central government's extension," he said. | |
| "There are also a mixture of criminality and factional fighters as part of what we describe as insurgents." | |
| Disputed claim | |
| It comes a day after Nato carried out air strikes and artillery barrages in the same area, which, according to the alliance, killed 40 Taleban. | It comes a day after Nato carried out air strikes and artillery barrages in the same area, which, according to the alliance, killed 40 Taleban. |
| Operation Medusa, led by Canadian forces, began on 2 September and aims to drive the insurgents from their strongholds in Kandahar. | Operation Medusa, led by Canadian forces, began on 2 September and aims to drive the insurgents from their strongholds in Kandahar. |
| It is the biggest operation in the area since the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) took over southern Afghanistan from a US-led coalition at the end of July. | It is the biggest operation in the area since the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) took over southern Afghanistan from a US-led coalition at the end of July. |
| Taleban spokesmen have disputed Nato's claim that the operation has so far killed 420 insurgents. | Taleban spokesmen have disputed Nato's claim that the operation has so far killed 420 insurgents. |