16 detained in weapons sweeps

Coalition forces detained four men after several rocket-propelled grenades were fired at a US special operations forces base in eastern Afghanistan, a US military spokesman said today.

The men were detained on Friday night near Asadabad in eastern Kunar province, said Col Roger King at Bagram air base, the US military headquarters in Afghanistan.

A patrol sent to investigate captured the men and recovered a grenade launcher, King said.

In the same area on Thursday, coalition forces detained 12 people. King did not release further details.

Forces also uncovered two weapons caches on Friday near Zormat, in Paktika province. The weapons included mortar ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and anti-personnel mines, King said.

US special operations forces on patrol in the southern province of Zabul on Friday found mortar rounds, five rockets, and grenades for a rocket-propelled launcher in a partially collapsed cave, King said.

In the village of Nariza in Paktia province on Thursday, seven women were found to be carrying nine grenades for a rocket-propelled launcher under their burqas, King said.

The weapons were taken away, but the women were not detained, he said.

The weapon recoveries were part of Operation Mountain Sweep, aimed at capturing or killing al-Qaida members and supporters and keeping them out of the area.

The operation, which began last Sunday, is roughly comparable to Operation Anaconda, the last major battle in March, when more than 2,000 US and coalition troops forced al-Qaida fighters and their Taliban allies to flee their hide-outs in southeastern Afghanistan.