Kabul Says 200 Taliban Surrounded in Oruzgan Province

(RFE/RL) April 24, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Afghan police and U.S.-led coalition forces clashed with Taliban fighters early today in Oruzgan Province, leaving two suspected militants dead and four people wounded, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reported.

The fighting was near the mountain village of Keshay in the southern part of the province.

That area is close to the part of northeastern Helmand Province where NATO-led forces have been conducting "Operation Achilles," a spring offensive against Taliban fighters positioned near the strategic Kajaki hydroelectric dam.

Afghan officials claim their forces have trapped up to 200 Taliban fighters in the village.

Meanwhile, coalition forces overnight launched an operation in the Bakwa district of Farah Province, killing two suspected militants and capturing eight.

Taliban fighters had seized that remote district from Afghan government forces in March.

(with materials from Reuters, AP, dpa)