Tabilan fighters killed in Afghan clashes

Afghan and US-led coalition forces backed by helicopter gunships killed 19 suspected Taliban in southern Helmand province as NATO prepares to take command of the volatile region, a local official said today.

Six Taliban were killed Thursday and another 13 on Friday and Saturday during clashes in the district of Garmser in Helmand province, said Haji Ghulam Muhiddin, the provincial governor’s spokesman.