Afghan police kill 11 Taliban, blast kills 4 NATO

KABUL, Aug 14: Afghan security forces killed 11 Taliban militants in a clash in the volatile south today, officials said, hours after a bomb blast in the capital wounded four NATO soldiers.

The bomb in Kabul was believed to have been strapped to a bicycle and detonated by remote control as a military convoy passed by, a spokesman for the NATO-led peacekeeping force said. The wounded soldiers were in stable condition, he added.

Three pedestrians were wounded, an Afghan police official said, blaming the Taliban for the attack.

Later on, Afghan police killed 11 Taliban militants in a clash in the southern province of Helmand, deputy governor Mohammad Akhundzada said. One policeman was killed.

Yesterday, up to 20 militants were killed in a battle with Afghan and U S-led coalition forces in the southeastern province of Paktika, a statement issued by the U S-led coalition said.

The battle erupted after insurgents attacked an Afghan army post.

Five Afghan soldiers were killed.

No Taliban official could be immediately reached for comment.

Afghanistan is going through the bloodiest phase of violence since U S -led coalition forces overthrew Taliban's Islamic government in 2001.

More than 1,400 people have been killed this year alone.

The toll also includes over 80 foreign troops.

REUTERS

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