14 militants killed in southern Afghanistan

Officials in Afghanistan say a battle outside of the southern city of Kandahar has killed at least six Taliban fighters, while an airstrike against militants elsewhere in the south killed eight.

Kandahar deputy provincial police chief Abdullah Khan says the battle just west of Kandahar began late Saturday after Taliban militants ambushed a police patrol, wounding two officers. NATO and Afghan forces responded, unleashing bombs that could be heard in Kandahar.

Khan says at least six militants have been killed in the fighting, which has continued into Sunday.

In neighboring Helmand province, governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi says an airstrike against a minivan killed eight militants late Saturday.

First Published: Feb 22, 2009 14:04 IST