The U.S. military says U.S. and Afghan troops have killed six suspected militants in Afghanistan amid growing violence by Taleban insurgents who are trying to sabotage parliamentary polls scheduled for September.
A military statement released in Kabul says the militants were killed after they attacked coalition forces who were conducting "security and stability" operations in Zabul province near the border with Pakistan.
It says 10 suspected militant fighters were captured during the incident, and there were no casualties among Afghan or U.S. soldiers during the clashes.
The Taleban and their Islamic allies, such as suspected al Qaida-linked terrorists, are mostly active in southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan close to the border with Pakistan.
Kabul alleges that Pakistan's tribal region is sheltering Taleban remnants, a charge denied by Islamabad.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.