Fifteen Taliban killed in Afghan clash - police

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 5 (Reuters) NATO and Afghan government troops killed 15 Taliban fighters in a clash in a restive southern province, police said today.

Last year was the bloodiest year Afghanistan has seen since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. The level of violence has eased in recent weeks since winter set in but intermittent attacks are taking place in the south and east.

The chief of police of Helmand province, Mohammad Nabi Mullahkhail, said 15 Taliban, including a district commander, had been killed in the battle yesterday evening. No NATO or Afghan troops were hurt, he said.

A spokesman for Afghanistan's 32,000-strong NATO force confirmed that there had been a clash but said no casualty estimate was available.

In a separate incident in Helmand, three Taliban were killed when explosives they were planting went off accidentally, Mullahkhail said.

More than 4,000 people died in Afghan violence in 2006 including nearly 170 foreign troops killed in attacks and accidents while on patrol.

The worst violence was in southern provinces, including Helmand.

The Taliban, fighting to expel foreign troops, have vowed to mount a fresh offensive in the spring.

REUTERS AKJ RN1851