Nine killed in southern Afghanistan violence

Eight suspected Taliban militants and one policeman were killed in two separate incidents in restive southern Afghanistan.

Eight suspected Taliban militants and one policeman were killed in two separate incidents in restive southern Afghanistan, officials said on Tuesday.

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Three insurgents were killed when US-led coalition aircraft fired Hellfire missiles and dropped a bomb on four rebels who were meeting at a suspected Taliban camp in Helmand province late on Monday, a US military statement said.

"Three enemy fighters were killed and one fled during the air strike," it said.

The statement added that the trio was responsible for launching numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and financing "terrorists".

In neighbouring Kandahar province, the birthplace of the Taliban regime, insurgents attacked a police post on Monday in Mianshin district, district governor Shadi Khan said.

"Five Taliban and one policeman were killed and two police were wounded in last night's attack," said Khan.

After two hours of fighting the insurgents fled the area, he said.

Residents said they saw the bodies of one Taliban and one policeman at the scene.

Meanwhile six children were injured Monday when some unexploded weaponry they were playing with blew up in the eastern province of Nangarhar, an administrative official said.

Afghanistan is still awash with weapons and ammunition after more than two decades of war and unrest.

Remnants of the repressive Taliban regime, which was ousted by US-led forces in late 2001, have this year stepped up an insurgency against thousands of foreign and Afghan troops and local police.

Most of their attacks take place in the south and east of Afghanistan.