Over 60 insurgents killed in N Afghanistan: NATO

KABUL, May 19, 2011 (Xinhua) --

Afghan and NATO-led forces had killed over 60 insurgents during three-day military operation in Faryab province, some 425 km northwest of capital city of Kabul, the military alliance said on Thursday.

"Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) killed more than 60 insurgents during clearing operations in Qiasar district, Faryab province in a three-day operation which began Friday," said a statement released by NATO-led ISAF here.

According to the statement, the combined force cleared the area around Ghuchghar village after receiving reports of insurgent activities.

"In the ensuing engagements, the combined force reported destroying 23 motorcycles used by insurgents, several rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, numerous assault rifles and accompanying ammunition."

Afghan and NATO officials often use the world "insurgents" for referring to Taliban militants. However, the militant group who announced on April 30 to start spring offensive against Afghan and NATO-led international forces have yet to make comments.

Both security forces and Taliban fighters have intensified activities to consolidate positions since beginning spring known as "fighting season" in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Presently more than 140,000 NATO and U.S. forces have stationed in Afghanistan curbing the Taliban-led insurgency in its 10th year.

Editor: Xiong Tong

12 killed, over 70 injured in Afghan protest over civilian killings

by Farid Behbud, Zhang Jianhua

TALUQAN, Afghanistan, May 18, 2011 (Xinhua) --

A total of 12 people were killed and over 70 others injured Wednesday when shooting broke out in a protest to condemn the alleged killing of four civilians by NATO-led troops in Takhar province.

"The number of killed people has risen to 12 in the provincial hospital in Taluqan city and over 70 were injured in today's protest," acting-chairman of provincial hospital Mohammad Hassan Basij told Xinhua.

He said three children were among the injured persons, adding some of the wounded were in critical conditions.

According to locals, some 2,000 Afghans went to the street to protest the alleged killing of four civilians by NATO-led troops and blamed the foreign forces for killing four civilians including two women, and arresting two others in a raid on a house outside Takhar provincial capital city of Taluqan, 245 km north of Kabul, the country's capital.

Meanwhile, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement that all the four people killed during the operation in Taluqan Tuesday night were armed insurgents.

"A combined Afghan and coalition security forces killed four insurgents, including two armed females during a security operation targeting an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator in Taluqan district, Takhar province yesterday," the NATO-led ISAF said in the statement released to media on Wednesday.

The facilitator acquires, constructs, and moves weapons and explosives throughout the province, according to the press release.

On the other hand, an official on condition of anonymity said that Taliban militants interfused the protesters and began attacking ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) compound in Taluqan city and triggering gun shots around the PRT compound.

Meanwhile, a police officer who declined to be identified told Xinhua that the situation was under control on Wednesday afternoon.

The deaths of Afghan civilians in the hand of international forces have long been a contentious issue between the Afghan government and U.S. and NATO forces in the insurgency-hit country.

Afghan officials have repeatedly said such incident will inflame anti-foreigner sentiment among the Afghans and would further undermine the war against Taliban and terrorist groups in the country.

A total of 2,777 civilians had been killed in 2010, a 15 percent increase compared with 2009, according to a UN report released in March.

The report said Afghan and NATO-led forces were responsible for 440 civilian deaths, or 16 percent of all fatalities in 2010, while 75 percent of the deaths were attributed to Taliban and other anti-government elements.

Editor: yan

10 killed in violent protest in Afghan town

TALUQAN, Afghanistan, May 18, 2011 (Xinhua) --

Ten people were killed and 30 others injured Wednesday after demonstration to condemn the alleged killing of four civilians by NATO-led troops in Takhar province turned into violence.

"The hospital in Taluqan city has received 10 dead bodies and 30 injured men, some of them in critical condition," a doctor told Xinhua but declined to be identified.

The protestors blamed NATO-led troops for killing four civilians including two women and arresting two others in a raid on a house outside Takhar provincial capital Taluqan city Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement that all the four people killed during the operation in Taluqan Tuesday night were armed insurgents.

An official said on condition of anonymity that Taliban militants interfused the protestors and began attacking ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) compound in Taluqan city and gun shots were heard.

Meanwhile, a police officer who declined to be identified told Xinhua that the situation was under control.

Editor: Fang Yang