75 Taliban Killed in Fighting, Afghan Officials Say

KABUL, Afghanistan — Fighting in Afghanistan killed some 75 people as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began, including 45 suspected Taliban terrorists who died in airstrikes and Afghan army gunfire, officials said yesterday.

In the southern province of Uruzgan, insurgents attacked a joint Afghan army and American-led coalition patrol Wednesday with rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire, the coalition said in a statement.

Afghan soldiers "cleared" Taliban fighters from firing positions within the village of Aduzay, while attack aircraft destroyed some fighting positions, it said. The coalition said more than 45 Taliban were killed.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force said Wednesday that insurgents increased attacks during Ramadan last year and that the same may happen this year.

"On the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, the enemies of Afghanistan have shown they will shun peaceful coexistence in favor of attacking government forces," a coalition spokesman, Army Major Chris Belcher, said. "Fortunately for the citizens of Afghanistan, the [Afghan National Army] is improving their tactics."

The coalition said no Afghan or coalition soldiers or civilians were wounded or killed in Uruzgan. It was not possible to confirm the death toll independently because of the remote location of the fighting.

Fighting has increased dramatically in the last several weeks in Afghanistan, with more than 300 suspected Taliban fighters killed since late August, according to the American-led coalition.

More than 4,300 people — mostly militants — have died in insurgency related violence this year, according to an Associated Press count based on figures from Western and Afghan officials.

In fighting elsewhere in the country, an Afghan-NATO patrol discovered and defused three roadside bombs Wednesday in the Zhari district of Kandahar province and shortly after was ambushed by Taliban fighters. A helicopter gunship joined the ensuing battle, which left 12 militants dead, said Syed Agha Saqib, the provincial police chief said yesterday.

Associated Press