Taliban militants reported killed in Afghan firefights

(CNN) -- "Several" Taliban militants were killed Saturday in fighting along the Helmand River in southern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition said. NATO also reported "initial indications" of many insurgents killed in eastern Afghanistan.

The fighting in the south was part of a NATO offensive intended to clear the river area of the Taliban -- the Islamic militant group that formerly ruled Afghanistan and provided haven to the al Qaeda terror network.

Afghan troops advised by coalition forces led the offensive in Helmand province's Nahr Surkh District on the western side of the river.

The coalition said a Taliban mortar team fired on an Afghan National Auxiliary Police patrol. Troops and police hammered the mortar site, using small arms, heavy weaponry and air support, killing "several" militants, the coalition said.

The fighting comes as some Afghans have said civilians have been killed by NATO and U.S. troop fire during fighting.

Afghan security forces, assisted by coalition forces, were engaged in a monthlong mission called Operation Adalat in the Shah Wali Kot area of Kandahar province "with a significant number of insurgents killed, two key leaders captured and no civilian casualties," the military said.

Small arms and air power were used "to eliminate Taliban activity in the area," it said. Mullah Jalil, a key leader in the area, and Mullah Mohammed Younis, a chief improvised explosive device assembler, were captured.

"Those Taliban leaders we target -- like those killed in this operation -- have been directly linked to deliberate targeting of innocent Afghan civilians, non-government agency personnel and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-82.

NATO troops operating in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province traded fire with insurgents after an attack Friday and airstrikes were carried out.

"Initial indications are that there were a number of insurgent casualties," said NATO's International Security Assistance Force, which added there was no evidence of civilians among the casualties.

There has been an uproar in Afghanistan over civilian deaths during military operations.

In the south, the coalition said police saw some of the militants' mortars land in civilian compounds.

Belcher said Afghan and coalition forces "are doing everything in their power to minimize effects on civilians in the affected area."

"We attempt to take every possible precaution to avoid undue risk to innocent Afghans and their property," he said. "Unfortunately, the Taliban show no such regard for human life."

Meanwhile on Saturday, two children and at least two Afghan police officers were killed in an explosion at a National Police base in southern Afghanistan, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.

The explosive device, concealed in a wooden cart, detonated at an Afghan National Police base in the Sangin region of Helmand province.

"This cowardly attack by the Taliban is further evidence of their lack of regard for the lives of ordinary Afghan people and their intent to attack and disrupt the legitimate security forces of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," said Lt. Col. Mike Smith, Regional Command-South spokesman. E-mail to a friend

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