US-led forces kill 55 in Afghanistan

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KABUL, June 23 (AFP): US-led coalition forces killed 55 militants including three "extremist leaders" in fighting near the insurgency-hit Afghan-Pakistani border, the coalition said in a statement on Monday.

The fighting erupted in the eastern province of Paktika after rebels attacked a coalition patrol on Friday, the statement said, while a coalition spokesman said the casualties occurred over the past three days.

Another 25 insurgents were wounded and three were detained in the clashes in the Zerok district of the troubled province, the coalition said.

"The coalition patrol received rocket-propelled grenade and small- arms fire from extremist forces. The coalition responded with a combination of small-arms fire and air support," it said.

"Around 55 anti-Afghan forces were killed, 25 wounded and three detained as part of the combined response of coalition ground and air forces," added the statement.

"Patrols in the ambush area continue to report additional enemy casualties," it added without giving further details.

A coalition spokesman said the rebels had died in three days of operations.

"They were killed as part of (the) combined response of coalition forces during (the past) three days," the spokesman who did not want to be identified by name told AFP.