14 insurgents killed in Helmand, Afghanistan

14 insurgents killed in Helmand, Afghanistan
Fourteen insurgents were killed Tuesday afternoon in a clash in Helmand province, 555 km south of capital city of Kabul, a provincial official said on Wednesday.

"An unknown number of armed terrorists attacked a joint patrol of Afghan and NATO-led ISAF forces in an area between Zambuli and Meermandab region in Gereshk district on Tuesday afternoon," a spokesman for the provincial government Daud Ahmadi told Xinhua on Wednesday morning.

The joint forces returned fire killing 14 insurgents on the spot besides discovering and seizing a handful of weapons on the scene, Ahmadi said, adding "Unfortunately a 13-year-old girl was also killed and another nine-year-old girl was injured in the clash that lasted for a while,"

"So far, it is unknown that whose firing killed the innocent girl but an investigation was underway by police into the case," Ahmadi added.

The Taliban militants stepped up their attacks on Afghan and NATO-led troops since a spring rebel offensive was launched in May this year in the war-ravaged country.

The Taliban outfit has also warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants.

The insurgent group has yet to make comments.

English.news.cn   2011-11-23 15:21:23 FeedbackPrintRSS
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 23 (Xinhua)