LOC16:07
13:07 GMT
KABUL, May 30 (KUNA) -- A senior Taliban leader was killed in an operation
by the foreign troops in eastern Afghanistan, a coalitin forces statement said
on Friday.
"Maulawi Abdul Malik, a senior insurgent leader, has been killed in an
Afghan led operation in eastern Afghanistan," said the statement from US
forces' Bagram base.
The operation was conducted in Logar province on May 27 and was designed to
disrupt IED (improvised explosive device) bomb-making cells and operations
throughout the region. Four other suspects were held but they were released
later.
"The removal of Abdul Malik will not only deal a significant blow to the
insurgents' capacity to attack Afghan and ISAF security forces, but will also
create a safer environment for the local population who have already suffered
as a result of the activities of this insurgent cell," said ISAF spokesmen
Brig. Gen. Carlos Branco.
Meanwhile, only a suicide bomber was killed in a failed car bomb attack on
US forces convoy in southeastern Afghanistan on Friday, officials said.
The bomber failed to hit the troops as he detonated his explosive-packed
car in Salarno district of Khost province on Friday morning. The troops stayed
unhurt in the attack, the second on US forces in two days in the same
province, said an Afghan police officer.
On Saturday, two civilians were kiled when a bomber tried to target a
military convoy in Khost. There was no casualties among the foreign army, said
the NATO press office. (end)
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