Two NATO troops killed in ambush in Afghan south

KABUL, Aug 1 (Reuters) At least two NATO soldiers were killed in an ambush in southern Afghanistan today, a day after the alliance took control of security in the volatile region.

The soldiers were part of a patrol that was attacked by insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades in Helmand province, a statement by the International Assistance Security Force (ISAF) said.

''Two ISAF soldiers were killed in this attack, one wounded and one remains unaccounted for,'' it said.

The statement did not give identity of the victims.

Taliban guerrillas and drug barons have been operating for years in Helmand, the main drug producing region of Afghanistan which is the world's leading supplier of heroin.

Residents said heavy fighting had erupted in Musa Qala district of Helmand where the soldiers were ambushed.

An ISAF spokesman confirmed the fighting, saying it was ''part of an ongoing operation'' but gave no details.

NATO forces yesterday took over security in the Afghan south from the US led coalition to begin one of the biggest ground operations in the alliance's history.

More than 1,700 people have been killed in Taliban-led insurgency, attacks by drug barons and operations of US-led forces this year, mostly in Afghanistan's southern areas.

The violence in Afghanistan is the bloodiest since coalition overthrew Taliban's government in 2001.

NATO peacekeeping troops, mostly from Britain, Canada and the Netherlands, have been taking up positions in the south for the past few months and have already been engaged in heavy fighting with Taliban guerrillas, in some cases allied with drug runners.

British forces lead the command of NATO in Helmand where six British soldiers have been killed in violence in the past six weeks.

The NATO takeover should allow the US army to trim down the size of its force from 23,000 to 20,000 and the alliance is expected to expand its mission later this year into the east where the militants are active too.

Afghan and coalition forces today detained four suspected al Qaeda operatives during a raid on a village in the southeastern province of Khost, a coalition statement said.

The raid was part of an operation to stop attacks on Afghan and coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan, and smuggling of explosives.

There was no resistance or casualties sustained on either side, the coalition statement said.

REUTERS DKA KP1507