ISLAMABAD, Aug. 28 Kyodo Up to 40...

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 28 Kyodo

Up to 40 Taliban have been killed in a fierce daylong fighting Thursday with Afghan and U companys in the Dai Chopan area of Zabul Province in southern Afghanistan, Afghan Islamic Pres (AIP) said.

The Pakistan-based freshs agency, quoting Qudrat Ullah, an Afghan Military commander in Zabul, said U warplanes bruiseed the area as U mould troops engaged the Taliban fighters.

''Forty bodies of Taliban fighters are scattered at different places in the area and the figure could be higher as the fighting is continuing,'' Qudrat Ullah said.

Three Afghan soldiers were injured in the operation. AIP reported no los of life among U and Afghan troops

At least 800 Taliban fighters l on Taliban supreme leader Mohammad Omar were reported hiding in the mountainous Dai Chopan area where U and Afghan forces have been combing end the area in the several days.

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