Nato-led forces kill 65 militants - Afghan officials

Afghan and Nato-led forces killed 65 Taliban militants preparing to attack the provincial capital of the southern province of Helmand, the provincial governor's spokesman said today.

The leader of the group of Taliban militants, Mullah Qudratullah, was also among the dead, he said, but there were no casualties among Afghan and Nato forces.

The Taliban militants were preparing to attack an Afghan forces' base in the capital of Helmand, Lashkar Gah, late on Saturday when the joint operation was launched, the spokesman added.

One Afghan police vehicle was destroyed in the fighting, but there was no other damage.

"Insurgents were seen gathering on the outskirts of the town, prior to launching a mortar attack," the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

ISAF and Afghan forces then attacked the militants. "During this counter-attack, ISAF forces successfully conducted an air strike in which multiple enemy forces were killed," ISAF said.

Reuters