US says scores of Taliban killed near Herat

KABUL, Apr 30 (Reuters) US-led coalition troops have killed scores of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan over the past several days, the coalition said today.

Backed by air support, the Taliban were killed in two separate battles in the western province of Herat, it said in a statement.

Herat, near the border with Iran, has been relatively safe until recently, compared to the south and east, where the Taliban are most active. Both battles were in the Zerkoh valley, south of Shindand district, where foreign troops have a large base.

A total of 87 Taliban fighters were killed during a 14-hour engagement with US-led troops and Afghan forces yesterday in the valley, the coalition said.

Another 49 Taliban members, along with two of their leaders, were killed two days earlier after a group of Taliban fired at a joint coalition and Afghan patrol in another part of the valley, it added.

The statement did not identify the Taliban leaders.

It said one US soldier was killed, but did not say if there were any casualties among the Afghan forces.

There were no injuries among civilians, the statement said.

The Taliban could not be contacted immediately for comment.

REUTERS SZ PM1130