KABUL, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Troops of the Afghan National Army (ANA) have arrested four senior Taliban leaders in the southern Uruzgan province, an Afghan official told Xinhua Sunday.

    "Personnel of ANA arrested Thursday four Taliban leaders, including Mullah Abidullah Akhund, a prominent commander, in Deh Rawad district," Mohammad Ishaq Paiman, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

    However, he clarified the name of the detainee Mullah AbidullahAkhund coincided to be the same as the fugitive Taliban Defense Minister who is still at large.

    "All the four detainees are under investigation,"the spokesman noted.

    Uruzgan, a constant restive province of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's hometown, along with the neighboring provinces ofZabul, Kandahar and Helmand have been scene of militancy for the last three years.

    More than 20 people including at least one American soldier were killed in Taliban-related violence in the restive south, southeast and east Afghanistan during the past two weeks. Enditem