South Asia News
Five children injured in Taliban attack, militant killed (1st Lead)
By DPA
Jul 8, 2008, 9:12 GMT

Kabul - US-led coalition forces targeted and killed a militant while detaining two others during an operation to disrupt Taliban activities in Wardak province, west of Kabul, while insurgents injured five children in a rocket attack in eastern Kunar province, officials said on Tuesday.

Coalition forces searched several compounds in Sayad Abad District Monday looking for a militant leader that has smuggled munitions and conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the area, the statement released from Bagram military base said.

'During the course of the operation, the targeted militant, armed with a pistol, threatened the force and was killed with small-arms fire,' according to the statement.

Coalition forces identified several militants in a wooded area and responded with air strikes, the statement said, adding, 'Coalition forces discovered and confiscated a cache of weapons, grenades, ammunition and a vehicle being used for Taliban operations.'

Meanwhile, Muhammad Jalal Jalal, the police chief of eastern Kunar province said a rocket attack took place in Narai district on late Monday and injured at least five children.

Taliban insurgents wanted to target the foreign forces base in the area but they missed the target and hit a play ground, Jalal said.

According to the police chief, the condition of the injured children is not life-threatening.

Zabihullah Mujahi, a Taliban spokesman, claimed that they targeted foreign forces based in Kunar and the attack resulted in heavy casualties. However, foreign troops based in the eastern province of Kunar have not commented.