78 killed in southern Afghanistan battles

Nato and Afghan troops clashed with Taliban insurgents and called in airstrikes, killing at least 50 suspected militants and 28 civilians, including women and children, local officials and villagers said today.

The fighting started last night in the village of Kumbarak in Helmand province, and Nato forces told residents to evacuate their homes because of the clashes, said Gereshk district chief Abdul Manaf Khan.