KABUL, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Eleven suspected militants have been detained from eastern Afghan province of Khost during a Afghan and Coalition forces joint operation, according to a Coalition statement issued here early Friday morning.

    Afghan National Security Force and the U.S.-led Coalition forces on March 12 searched compounds in Tanai district "targeting militants linked to foreign fighter, improvised explosive device and weapons facilitation operations," and detained 11 individuals, it said.

    The statement said the detained individuals will be questioned.

    The combined force also discovered a number of improvised explosive device (IED) making materials, several hand grenades, small-arms, ammunition and ammunition vests, it added.

    The multi-national Coalition forces, with majority a 16,000-strong U.S. troops, are deployed in Afghanistan for fighting militants and ensuring security.

    In a latest wave of militant violence, the Taliban, fighting with the Afghan government and foreign troops since fall from power in 2001, launched a suicide car blast attack on a Coalition forces' convoy in the capital Kabul Thursday, killing six civilians and wounding four soldiers.