Troops kill 40 militants in Afghanistan
Monday, 13 April 2009
KANDAHAR, April 12 (AFP): Afghan and international forces killed 40 Taliban militants in separate battles in the troubled country, authorities said Sunday.
In one incident, the rebels ambushed a joint Afghan and foreign forces patrol in Shinkay district of Zabul province late Saturday, sparking an exchange of gunfire, provincial police chief Abdul Rehman Sarjang told the reporter.
"Twenty-two Taliban were killed. The militants left the bodies behind. Four are Pakistani nationals and the rest are Afghans," he said.
Sarjang added the international forces called in air support after the ambush. There were no casualties to the joint forces.
The interior ministry gave the same toll in a statement.
But the US military said separately it had killed four Taliban in the same area, also Saturday. It was unclear if it was the same incident.
In one incident, the rebels ambushed a joint Afghan and foreign forces patrol in Shinkay district of Zabul province late Saturday, sparking an exchange of gunfire, provincial police chief Abdul Rehman Sarjang told the reporter.
"Twenty-two Taliban were killed. The militants left the bodies behind. Four are Pakistani nationals and the rest are Afghans," he said.
Sarjang added the international forces called in air support after the ambush. There were no casualties to the joint forces.
The interior ministry gave the same toll in a statement.
But the US military said separately it had killed four Taliban in the same area, also Saturday. It was unclear if it was the same incident.