A US soldier was killed in a mine accident in south-eastern Afghanistan, but “enemy action” was ruled out, the US military said today.

US-led forces killed eight militants after coming under attack in eastern Afghanistan, the coalition said in a statement today.

Some 2,000 Afghan security forces rushed to an eastern province today after dozens of suspected Taliban rebels wearing army uniforms killed eight police and soldiers in an attack on a region that has been largely peaceful in recent months, officials said.