Eight suspected Taleban fighters have been killed by Afghan soldiers in southern Afghanistan, officials say. Officials said that 16 militants were captured in a gun battle with Afghan forces who had air support from the US-led forces in Zabul province. Afghan defense ministry spokesman Zahir Azimy said the incident happened in Zabul's Dai Chopan district after the militants tried to ambush a convoy of soldiers. "After the ambush, fierce fighting broke out and we called in coalition air support," he told the Reuters news agency.