Afghan insurgents slain after attack on workers

(CNN) -- More than a dozen insurgents died on Wednesday during a battle in eastern Afghanistan, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.

The clash took place in the Bak district of Khost province.

ISAF said the incident started when militants attacked construction workers. Security forces went to the scene and fought the insurgents.

They were assisted by ISAF forces and U.S. attack helicopters.

In western Afghanistan, a coalition service member was killed Wednesday by small arms fire during a combat patrol, the U.S.-led coalition said.

The service member's nationality was being withheld until next-of-kin were contacted.

This follows a string of incidents on Tuesday, including an attack on an American base in Khost and the killings of 10 French soldiers in fighting near Kabul.

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