Local Taliban Chief Killed In Afghanistan

2 September 2005 -- U.S. and Afghan forces killed a local Taliban commander in fighting in the southern Zabul Province.
Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi confirmed that Tor Mullah Manan was killed in fighting in Zabul.

The U.S. military said one of its soldiers was wounded in that fight.

The U.S. military also said today that one American soldier and an Afghan interpreter were killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan. The military did not say exactly where the U.S. soldier was killed or whether it was connected to the clash in Zabul.

Earlier today, Afghan officials said two bodies found in southern Afghanistan are suspected to be those of Japanese tourists missing in the area since early last month. The bodies were found late yesterday in Kandahar Province.

(Reuters/AP/AFP)