Nato soldier killed in Afghanistan battle

More than 40 suspected Taliban fighters and one Nato soldier have been killed during fierce fighting in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said today.

The insurgents were killed late last night and early this morning in Kandahar province’s Panjwayi district, where an anti-Taliban operation was launched on September 2.

The latest deaths bring the number of suspected militants reported killed by Nato in Operation Medusa to at least 320.

One Nato soldier was killed today, the alliance said in a statement.

The soldier’s nationality was not released but Canadian forces are leading the Panjwayi push and have had at least five soldiers killed since the operation began.