Coalition forces kill 25 Taliban in Afghanistan
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk Report

KANDAHAR (Afghanistan): At least 25 suspected Taliban militants were killed on Saturday in a bombing raid by aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition in the central province of Uruzgan, the provincial governor said.

Jan Mohammad Khan said that Taliban guerrillas who have vowed to disrupt the poll attacked a convoy of Afghan and U.S.-led troops in Char Cheno district, several hours before polling began in Afghanistan's landmark election.

Firefight

The two sides engaged in a firefight before air support was called in, he said.

According to Khan, one local resident died in the bombing, but locals in the area said 14 civilians were either wounded or killed in the skirmish, among them women and children.

The fighting was the largest reported security incident to date on the day Afghans held their first direct presidential ballot.

Taliban's Warnings

Despite dire warnings of violence by the Taliban, which is opposed to the election and the presence of foreign troops in the country, there have been fewer attacks than feared.

In Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern province of Helmand, six rockets were fired overnight, and two children were wounded.

In Kunar province, east of Kabul, several rockets were fired in two villages overnight but there were no casualties.●