Heavy fighting leaves 15 dead in S. Afghanistan

At least 15 people were killed and four injured on Sunday in a bloody battle between Afghan forces and Taliban militants in the restive province of Kandahar, confirmed an official.

"Afghan National Army (ANA) has been fighting against Taliban militants since 1:00 p.m. this afternoon in the Panjwaye district, some 35 km southwest to Kandahar city," Daoud Ahmadi, the spokesman of Kandahar government, told Xinhua.

Eleven militants were killed in the battle field while four ANA soldiers lost their lives and other four injured during the heavy fighting, he added.

"The firefighting is still going despite night falls," said the spokesman.

Kandahar, a former stronghold of Taliban, has been the scene of increasing insurgency as Taliban leader Omar vowed jihad against the Afghan government and foreign troops in the country.

More than 300 people including 25 American soldiers have lost their lives in Taliban-led insurgency since beginning of this year.

Source: Xinhua