WORLD> Middle East
Afghan troops kill and wound 15 suspected insurgents
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-03 15:19

KABUL -- Afghan troops backed by the international forces killed and injured 15 suspected Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's southern provinces of Uruzgan and Helmand, Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The operation occurred in Deh Rawad district on Tuesday during which 10 rebels were killed and wounded. Afghan troops after fighting established a security checkpoint there," the statement said.

Five more insurgents were killed in Nawbahar district of the troubled Helmand province on the same day, the statement said.

However, the statement did not say if there were any casualties on the government troops.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan government and international troops based in Afghanistan have yet to make comment.  

Conflicts and Taliban-related violence have left more than 3, 200 persons mostly militants, according to officials so far this year in Afghanistan.