KABUL, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militant attacked a convoy of the U.S.-led coalition forces on Monday in the eastern Nooristan province of Afghanistan, while the forces' casualties are disputed.

    A purported Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Hanif, said the militants attacked a U.S. convoy of coalition forces in Khmbesh district at 10:00 a.m. local time, killing several U.S. soldiers and burning eight vehicles.

    He said four Taliban militants were also killed in the fire exchange.

    However, an official from neighboring Kunar province told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that three U.S. soldiers were injured in the attack.

    Meanwhile, Chris Miller, a coalition spokesman, confirmed with Xinhua that there was an attack against a coalition convoy in the district on Monday. "But there were no coalition casualties and any other damages."

    The Taliban, which frequently attacks foreign and government troops in this volatile country, tends to exaggerate the casualties and damages they have inflicted on the troops.

    About 20,000 coalition forces are deployed in eastern Afghanistan to hunt down Taliban and other anti-government militants there.

    Afghanistan is suffering from a rise of Taliban-linked violence this year, during which more than 2,300 people, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed. Enditem