KABUL, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Heavy fighting between government troops and
Taliban insurgents has been continuing over the control of a district in
Afghanistan's western Farah province for the past two days and so far 30
militants have been killed, police said Wednesday.
"Since Tuesday 30 rebels including their commanders Mullah Azizand Mullah
Ghafar have been killed in Gilistan district," a police spokesman in Farah
province, Mohammad Gul, told Xinhua.
Gul said a number of police and civilians have also been killed in the
conflict but could not give the exact figure.
He moreover confirmed that the clash has been concentrated over the
headquarters of Gilistan district.
To dislodge the militants, he said the government had sent reinforcement to
the area.
Some 400 Taliban fighters are said to have been fighting for the capture of
Gilistan.
Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a purported spokesman for the Taliban fighters, said
that the militants captured Gilistan district Tuesday but the spokesman of
police in Farah province rejected the claim as baseless.
Gul also expressed hope that the government troops with the support of NATO
and the U.S.-led Coalition forces would soon dislodge the Taliban and
re-establish control over the district.
Around 5,400 people have been killed in Afghan conflicts so far this year.
