The death toll from a fierce battle against militants by U.S. and Afghan forces in southeastern Afghanistan doubled to 40 on Thursday after troops found more bodies at the scene of clash, one of the deadliest since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Meanwhile, the government said nine of its soldiers died in an ambush, the worst loss yet for the country's new U.S.-trained army. Three more troops were injured in the attack Wednesday near Spin Ghar in Kandahar province, Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammed Zahir Azimi told The Associated Press. He had no further details.
