Soldier, 2 police killed in Afghanistan

Afghans: Over 100 dead in southern fight

By NOOR KHAN, Associated Press Writer
55 minutes ago

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - More than 100 people, including militants,
civilians and police, have died in three days of fierce clashes
between NATO forces and Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan,
Afghan officials said Monday.

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In eastern Afghanistan, U.S.-led coalition jets bombed a compound
suspected of housing al-Qaida militants, killing seven boys and
several insurgents, officials said.

A senior Afghan Defense Ministry official has said that civilian deaths
are the main concern of Afghans, and President Hamid Karzai has
repeatedly called for foreign troops to do more to prevent civilian
casualties.

Mullah Ahmidullah Khan, the head of Uruzgan's provincial council, said
the clashes in the Chora district had killed 60 civilians, 70 suspected
Taliban militants and 16 Afghan police.

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Netherlands defense chief Gen. Dick Berlijn told reporters in the
Netherlands that a Dutch soldier was killed in a battle that started
over the weekend with Taliban fighters near Chora.

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