36 taliban killed

AP

KABUL (AFP) — At least 36 Islamic militants were killed in clashes with security forces in Afghanistan, authorities said Thursday, adding that villagers had reported that 10 civilians died in rebel gunfire.[...]

In central Uruzgan province, Afghan and international troops were on patrol when they were attacked with guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), a statement from the US forces in Afghanistan said.

"ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and coalition forces responded to the attack with small-arms, RPG and supporting fire, killing 12 militants," it stated.

"Local Afghan villagers told ANSF and coalition forces that militant fire killed 10 Afghan civilians in a nearby village."

....

In separate unrest, troops killed nine rebels in the southern province of Helmand, a stronghold for the Taliban militia which has been fighting to make a come-back since being driven from government.

Nine more died in a later engagement the same day, it said.

The Afghan defence ministry, meanwhile, said combined forces had killed six militants in an operation in the western province of Farah, also Wednesday.