Taliban forces have taken over two towns in the southern part of the country, local media reported.

Scores of Taliban fighters on Sunday entered the southern Helmand town of Garmser, forcing a small security force to flee and then taking control of the area, the report said, quoting a local official.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military said in a statement that one coalition soldier was killed and 11 were wounded in separate fightings Monday.

The clash took place in the Tirin Kot district of Uruzgan province after coalition forces attacked and destroyed a truck that militants were loading with mortar equipment, the statement said.

The bloodshed came amid Afghanistan's deadliest violence since the late 2001 ouster of the Taliban. More than 800 people, mostly militants, have been killed since mid-May.

Source: Xinhua