89 Taliban killed in clashes with Coalition troops

KANDAHAR (Afghanistan)--NATO and Afghan forces killed dozens of suspected Taliban with air strikes and artillery in a major operation in a volatile province in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Sunday. Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi said 89 militants and a number of civilians had died during two days of fighting in the Panjwayi district, about 10 miles from the city of Kandahar.
The casualty counts could not be independently confirmed because the government has ordered vehicles off roads leading to the area. Azimi cited intelligence reports but did not elaborate on how the number was obtained. NATO spokesman Maj. Scott Lundy said NATO forces had suffered casualties, including some fatalities, during Operation Medusa, which started Saturday. "More information will be released when appropriate, because of the ongoing nature of the operation," he said.
Lundy said the NATO and Afghan forces had gained ground during the operation, and had disrupted the militants' command and control so their fighters were moving in a confused way. The alliance released a statement saying its troops reported dozens of insurgents killed during the fighting Saturday. It said many more have been wounded, and a significant number arrested. At odds with Azimi's account, NATO said no civilian casualties had been reported.
It was not possible to independently confirm the death toll as reporters were unable to gain access to the battlefield, and there was no indication that bodies had been taken local hospitals. NATO said its casualty estimate was based on reports from troops on the ground. Lundy said that typically its assessments draws on information from its surveillance and reconnaissance assets, including troops viewing the battle scene, as well as Afghan witnesses, Afghan officials and other evidence such as freshly dug graves.
On Saturday, a reconnaissance plane supporting Operation Medusa in Panjwayi crashed, killing all 14 British troops on board. NATO said it was not caused by hostile fire. Azimi said NATO and Afghan forces had launched about 40 artillery and airstrikes. He said that on Sunday morning, the forces launched a ground attack, crossing a bridge in the Argandab area, followed in the afternoon by an air attack.--Agencies