More than 50 Taliban killed in latest fighting

US artillery and airstrikes killed between 50 and 60 suspected Taliban militants today, the fourth day of a Nato-led offensive in southern Afghanistan, a Nato spokesman said.

The US troops, operating under Nato command, clashed with the militants in Panjwayi district of Kandahar province, where an offensive began over the weekend to flush out hundreds of Taliban fighters. Nato has already reported more than 200 Taliban killed in the operation.