More than 100 Taleban killed in Helmand

AFGHAN and United States-led coalition forces have killed more than 100 Taleban in the southern Afghan province of Helmand during three days of fighting, the US military said yesterday.

Violence has surged in Afghanistan, with more than 2,500 people, including 1,000 civilians, killed in the conflict in the first six months of this year, aid agencies say.

"Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and coalition forces killed over 100 insurgents during combat operations in Helmand province," a US spokesman said.

"ANSF and coalition forces were conducting security patrols when they were attacked by insurgents using small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire, sparking numerous engagements."

The patrols returned fire and called in air support.

Mainly British troops have been engaged in heavy fighting with militants in Helmand for three years.

They and US-led coalition troops working alongside Afghan forces have inflicted many hundreds of casualties on the Taleban, but it is still one of the most active places for the insurgency.

Earlier, the Afghan defence ministry said its troops were engaged in fierce fighting with Taleban insurgents in the Nad Ali district, but it was not clear if it was referring to the same clashes.