KABUL, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and eight Taliban fighters have been killed in separate incidents in south Afghanistan over the past two days, senior military commander in the region Shir Mohammad Zazi said on Saturday.

    "Three ANA soldiers were killed as their vehicle overran a landmine at around 10 a.m. local time in Gereshk district of Helmand province," Zazi told Xinhua.

    In another incident in neighboring Kandahar province, three Taliban militants were killed as they came in contact with ANA forces in Jalai district on Friday evening, he added.

    He also added that five more militants were killed by ANA forces in Mizan district of Zabul province on the same day Friday.

    Taliban militants, whose regime was toppled by U.S.-led coalition forces in late 2001, have vowed to intensify their assaults, mostly in the shapes of roadside and suicide attacks, this year in the militancy-hit country.