Over 22 militants were killed and 12 others were detained in Tuesday overnight battles, separately happened in eastern Afghan province of Paktika and southern province of Helmand, said the statements from the US-led Coalition forces released in Kabul on Wednesday.

Afghan National Police were attacked in the Sarobi district center of Paktika province late Tuesday evening, then they repelled the attack with small-arms fire and requested Coalition air support, the statement said.

"When Coalition air support arrived, the 22 militants who attacked the district centers were positively identified and killed," it said.

In the other incident, according to the statement, several militants were killed and 12 others were detained during a Coalition operation Tuesday in Helmand province.

Coalition forces searched compounds in Req district targeting a militant leader known to conduct financing operations, facilitate foreign fighters and smuggle narcotics in the area, the statement said.

Coalition forces identified several armed militants maneuvering against the force and responded with small-arms fire and air strikes, killing the militants, it said.

During their search, Coalition forces also discovered ammunition and a cache of narcotics which have been destroyed on the spot, it added.

Attacks on international troops are on the rise during past weeks especially in southern and eastern Afghanistan where the Taliban militants continue to demonstrate their strength through suicide and roadside bombings.

Escalating insurgency and violent incidents have left around 2, 000 people dead since January this year in the war-torn Afghanistan.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2008)