Over 50 Taliban killed

AFGHANISTAN: Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed more than 50 Taliban militants in a fierce 12-hour battle ending Thursday in the country's opium-growing heartland, the coalition said.

Coalition warplanes were also called in to bomb rebel hideouts in the fighting, which broke out late Wednesday in the insurgency-hit southern province of Helmand, it said in a statement.

"More than 50 insurgents were confirmed killed with an unknown number wounded. Sixteen Taliban compounds, three enemy motorcycles and five enemy trucks were destroyed as well," the statement said.

Kabul, Thursday, AFP.