US military says 12 Taliban killed in clash in Afghanistan

Mar 28, 2009, 12:05 GMT

Kabul - US-led coalition forces reported on Saturday that their troops, backed by Afghan forces, killed 12 militants in a night-time raid in southern Afghanistan.

The militants were killed on Friday during an attack by the combined forces on their hideout in Nahr Surkh district of southern Helmand province, some 125 kilometres west of Kandahar city, the US military said in a statement.

The militants inside the compounds opened fire on the joined forces as they approached the compound, according to the statement. Additionally, the statement reported, US-led forces killed the militants while protecting nine women and 20 children, who were also in the compound.

The statement said that only one child was wounded during the firefight and was treated by the coalition medic at the scene.

But, Qari Mohammad Yousif Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, speaking by phone from an undisclosed location, said that 11 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the attack. Additionally, he said there were no casualties among the militants.

He said Taliban militants were not even in the area when the Afghan and US military forces carried out the assault.

Afghan local officials were not aware of the operation. Due to the remoteness of the area, it was difficult to verify the conflicting reports independently.

More than 2,100 civilians were killed in Afghanistan conflict last year, according to report by the United Nations.