KANDAHAR -Troops from the US-led coalition have killed between 15 to 20 Taleban insurgents in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, a statement said on Monday. “A coalition patrol killed 15 to 20 Taleban fighters in Sangin district of Helmand late Saturday during operations to rid the area of enemy influence,” the coalition forces statement said.It said a patrol spotted a large group of men armed with AK-47 rifles and RPG-7 grenade launchers moving towards them in pickup trucks. “The pickup trucks tried to outmaneuver the convoy and move into an ambush position -- after having confirmed there were no friendly forces operating in the area, the coalition patrol opened fire,” said the statement. Three pickup trucks were destroyed and there were no coalition casualties. “Coalition forces succeeded in destroying a sizable Taleban force...thereby improving security in Sangin district,” said Brigadier-General David Fraser, commander of the multinational brigade in southern Afghanistan.
In the southeastern province of Khost a suicide bomber who planned to target an anniversary ceremony was killed in a premature blast and an accomplice was wounded early Monday, officials said. The bomber with explosives strapped to his body was walking to Khost city from Ismail Khail district along with two accomplices when his bomb went off prematurely, provincial governor Mirajudin Patan told AFP.
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