Taliban militant attacked a convoy of the US-led coalition
forces on Monday in the eastern Nooristan province of Afghanistan,
while the forces' casualties are disputed.
A purported Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Hanif, said the
militants attacked a US convoy of coalition forces in Khmbesh
district at 10:00 AM local time, killing several US soldiers and
burning eight vehicles.
He said four Taliban militants were also killed in the fire
exchange.
However, an official from neighboring Kunar province told Xinhua
on condition of anonymity that three US soldiers were injured in
the attack.
Meanwhile, Chris Miller, a coalition spokesman, confirmed with
Xinhua that there was an attack against a coalition convoy in the
district on Monday. "But there were no coalition casualties and any
other damages."
The Taliban, which frequently attacks foreign and government
troops in this volatile country, tends to exaggerate the casualties
and damages they have inflicted on the troops.
About 20,000 coalition forces are deployed in eastern
Afghanistan to hunt down Taliban and other anti-government
militants there.
Also on Monday, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has accused
the enemies of Afghanistan of involvement in the assassination of
Hakim Tanaiwal the late governor of southeastern Paktia province
and condemned it "The enemies of Afghanistan are trying to kill
those people who are working for the peace and prosperity of
Afghanistan.
Tanaiwal who served as the governor of the restive Paktia
province was killed along with two colleagues when a suicide bomber
blew himself up as the governor left his office on Sunday.
Four more people were killed as another suicide bomber targeted the
funeral ceremony of the late provincial governor at his province
Khost on Monday.
No one has claimed responsibility but the officials usually put
such attacks on the enemies of Afghanistan a term used against
Taliban-linked militants.
More than 2,300 people mostly militants have been killed in
Taliban-led insurgency so far this year in Afghanistan, according
to official statistics.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2006)
