Afghanistan and Pakistan

The U.S. military says bomb blasts killed two soldiers Saturday in southern Afghanistan, where U.S. and British troops launched an offensive against Taliban insurgents earlier this month.

Military officials initially reported four U.S. Marines had died in Helmand province, but they later corrected the figure, saying the deaths were double-counted by mistake.

More than 100 U.S. troops have died this year, which is on pace to be the deadliest since U.S.-led forces ousted the Taliban from power in 2001.

Meanwhile, Afghan officials say coalition forces and local police killed 12 suspected militants during overnight operations in southern Uruzgan province Saturday.

Officials say the clashes took place hours after fighting in the area left some 19 militants dead.

Elsewhere, a roadside bomb killed four police officers in Logar province. Another roadside bomb killed two Afghan police officers in Helmand province.