KABUL, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Afghan National Army troops backed by the NATO-led forces have eliminated over a dozen Taliban insurgents in different operations elsewhere in the country in the past two days, a statement of Defense Ministry issued here on Sunday said.

    "A group of militants who were attempting to plant mines along the road in eastern Laghman province early this morning to target security forces but the troops acting upon intelligence report killed six rebels," the statement said.

    Six more militants, it added, were killed in the western Wardak province while planning Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on a road in Jaghato district on the same day.

    A suspect militant was also detained on the site, it added.

    On Saturday, five rebels were killed in two separate operations in Khakriz and Panjwai districts of southern Kandahar province.

    Eight militants had been detained in the operations, it further said.