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'Multiple Taliban casualties' reported in Afghanistan

12/10/2008

British and Afghan officials have claimed to have killed many Taliban fighters in gunbattles on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand province.

A spokesman for the governor of Helmand province said militants had attacked the city on three fronts but coalition forces had managed to repel the attack and inflict casualties on the Afghan rebels.

He told the Guardian newspaper that 41 bodies believed to be those of Taliban fighters had been recovered while a further 20 had been taken away. He added that a further 40 militants had been killed in separate fighting.

Nato spokesman Brigadier General Richard Blanchette confirmed that fierce fighting had taken place in the capital of Helmand province. He said "multiple enemy forces" were killed when coalition forces called in an air strike after noticing forces gathering on the outskirts of the city.

"If the insurgents planned a spectacular attack prior to the winter, this was a spectacular failure," he added.

Nato forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and have been fighting the Taliban since removing them from power.