Clash between security forces and Taliban insurgents in Balablok district of Farah province in west Afghanistan have left 50 insurgents dead on Saturday, military spokesman in the region Abdul Basir Ghori said.
"The heavy clash involving Afghan and international troops erupted at 08:00 a.m. local time (GMT0330) and left 50 rebels dead and dozens others sustained injures after four hours," Ghori told Xinhua.
He added that nine soldiers, including two Americans and seven Afghans, were killed in the gun battle.
A dozen Afghan soldiers got wounded in the battle lasted for four hours, the spokesman further said.
Meantime, provincial governor Rohul Amin Amini said that the clash occurred in the wake of Taliban attack on the humanitarian aid convoy of the United Nations and employees of electricity department during which four Afghan soldiers and four civilians got wounded.
Police spokesman in west Afghanistan Abdul Rauf Ahmadi also confirmed the battle and said two civilians were killed and two others sustained injuries in the gunfight.
However, he did not make comment on military casualties.
Taliban insurgents continued to engaged Afghan security forces and foreign troops with guerrilla-style attacks, besides launching roadside bombings and suicide attacks, across the militancy-hit country.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2009)
