Clear-up operation kills 35 Taliban insurgents in S. Afghanistan
15/12/2008 17:14
Afghan Security forces in a clear-up operation have killed nearly three
dozen suspected insurgents in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, a local
newspaper reported today.
"Thirty five Taliban fighters have been killed in
the clean up operation launched after Eidul Adha (religious festival) late last
week," daily Outlook quoted a military officer Muhiuddin Ghauri as
saying.
During the operation backed by the NATO-led International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) and covered parts of the restive Helmand province, three
Taliban commanders had also been killed.
The operation, according to Ghauri,
has been launched to pave the way for upcoming presidential elections in restive
areas and restart the reconstruction projects.
Ghauri, nevertheless,
contended that neither civilians nor security elements had been killed during
the fighting.
Meantime, Taliban purported spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi
rejected the claim and in talks with media from an undisclosed location disputed
the claim, saying the Taliban remained unhurt in the operation.
Spiraling
conflicts and Taliban-linked insurgency have claimed more than 5,000 people,
mostly militants, so far this year despite over 70,000-strong international
troops stationed in strife-torn Afghanistan.
Xinhua
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