Coalition Forces Kill 80 Taliban In S. Afghanistan

Coalition Forces Kill 80 Taliban in Southern Afghanistan

The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan says troops have killed about 80 Taliban fighters in a six-hour battle in the south of the country.

A coalition statement Sunday says the fight broke out Saturday when the Taliban tried to ambush a patrol of Afghan and international soldiers in Musa Qala in the volatile province of Helmand.

Coalition officials say the troops called in air support, resulting in the deaths of scores of Taliban fighters.

Helmand province is a major poppy growing region where opium production helps fund the Taliban insurgency.

On Saturday, U.S. and Afghan officials said a suicide bomber dressed in a security uniform blew himself up near an American military base in eastern Afghanistan, killing four Afghan soldiers and one civilian.

The officials said at least five Afghan civilians were wounded in the attack in Paktika province.

In Helmand province, police said Taliban insurgents killed three policemen who tried to prevent the militants from carrying out a kidnapping. The militants managed to escape with the hostage.

In another incident in Helmand, Afghan and coalition forces killed several Taliban militants. The coalition did not give a specific toll.

ENDS

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