Dozens of Taliban killed in Helmand

Afghan and US-led forces say they have killed more than 50 Taliban fighters in a 12-hour battle in Helmand province.
A US-led coalition statement said its aircraft bombed the hideouts of Taliban fighters late on Wednesday in the country's opium-growing heartland.

"More than 50 insurgents were confirmed killed with an unknown number wounded. Sixteen Taliban compounds, three enemy motorcycles and five enemy trucks were destroyed as well," the statement said.

One coalition soldier suffered a broken hand, while there were no civilian casualties, it added.

In separate fighting, 10 Taliban members and a policeman also died, officials said.

A Taliban spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the casualty figures and the toll could not be independently verified.

Fighting began on Wednesday night after the Taliban attacked a joint US-led and Afghan National Army patrol.

"During the course of the battle, the insurgents attacked from 16 separate compounds using heavy machineguns, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms weapons," said the US-led coalition's statement.

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