Nato forces kill 38 Taliban

Updated 11.04 Thu Mar 22 2007
Keywords: Helmand province, Girishk, Nato, Taliban, Afghanistan

Nato-led forces have attacked two insurgent hideouts in southern Afghanistan, killing 38 Taliban guerrillas, a district police chief said.

Backed by air support, the attacks took place in two areas in the Girishk district of Helmand province.

"Eleven Taliban were killed in one attack and 27 in another" - Police chief Habibullah

Police chief Habibullah said: "Eleven Taliban were killed in one attack and 27 in another. There were no casualties among Nato or our troops."

Fighting has begun intensifying across the country after winter and analysts say this is the crunch year for Nato and the Taliban.

Last year was the bloodiest since the hardline Islamists were ousted by allied forces in 2001.

More than 4,000 people died, a quarter of them civilians, and suicide bombings jumped to 139 from 21 in 2005 and are expected to increase dramatically again this year.

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