3 soldiers, 7 Afghan police killed in Taliban attacks (Roundup)

Jul 4, 2009, 13:49 GMT

Kabul - Three soldiers of the international forces and seven policemen were reported killed in separate attacks by Taliban militants on Saturday.

Local officials in the south-eastern Paktika province said two US soldiers were killed as Taliban rebels attacked a US military base in Zhirok district in the morning, detonating a fuel tanker filled with explosives.

Provincial governor's spokesman Hamidullah Zhwak told the German Press Agency dpa that the heavy explosion was followed by fighting that began at 6:30 am and lasted four hours.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said eight tons of explosives were used in the attack. He said 20 Taliban militants took part in the operation, and that seven were killed.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed in a statement that two of its soldiers were killed in the east, but it said the cause was a roadside bomb blast. Earlier, an ISAF spokesperson said four soldiers were also wounded.

Another statement issued separately by the ISAF and the US military said that an outpost came under the Taliban attack, in which 10 militants were killed and one was detained.

'At least 10 militants were killed and one detained as Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) service members responded to an attack on a combat outpost in Paktika province this morning,' said the statements.

Insurgents attacked with indirect fire, including multiple rockets and mortars, at least one of which contained white phosphorous, small-arms fire and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, the statements read. They did not mention any casualties to international forces.

In another statement earlier Saturday, ISAF troops also said one soldier was killed by roadside bomb in eastern Afghanistan, making announcement of the third international soldier's death on a single day. It did not disclose nationality of the victim or the location.

In southern Kandahar province, seven police were killed as their jeep stepped on a roadside bomb Saturday morning.

The interior ministry in Kabul said in a statement a civilian also died and two other police were killed in the blast that targeted a police patrol around 6:30 in Rigistan district.

Kandahar is a Taliban stronghold and birthplace of the militant movement in 1990s.

In neighboring Helmand province, where US forces are leading a massive operation against the Taliban, local officials said one district partially governed by the Taliban was cleared out of the militants during the sweep.

Helmand provincial chief Asadullah Shirzad told dpa that Nawa district was retaken from the Taliban and all areas were cleared from the militants during the operation Khanjar (curved dagger).

On Friday, he said Khanashin district - which had been ruled by the Taliban completely - was retaken.

He said international and Afghan forces were now moving into Grishk, Nahr Saraj and Garmsir districts, of which the countryside is run by the Taliban, but district centers remain with the government.

Three districts of Helmand - Dishu, Baghran and Washer - are still run by the Taliban completely. The Taliban made no immediate comment on the reported fall of Khanashin and Nawa districts.

Reports of these having been retaken were announced only by local officials in Helmand. The defence ministry in Kabul in a statement on Saturday limited itself to saying operation Khanjar was going well, and that it was aimed at bringing security to the area before the presidential election set for August 20.

The massive military offensive was launched by US Marines on Thursday to tackle the Taliban's comeback in its strongest stronghold.

Up to 4,000 Marines, backed by NATO aircraft and a 650-man Afghan force, have been moving into towns across the province.

The Taliban vowed that thousands of its fighters would fight back, but a military spokesman said that there had only been limited resistance so far.