U.S.-LED FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN KILLED MORE THAN 60 TALIBAN FIGHTERS IN ATTACKS ON THEIR STRONGHOLDS IN THE SOUTH ON MONDAY, THE GOVERNOR OF KANDAHAR PROVINCE SAID. MORE THAN 16 CIVILIANS WERE ALSO KILLED IN THE GROUND AND AIR ASSAULT IN PANJWAI DISTRICT OF KANDAHAR, WHICH CAME AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF SOME OF THE HEAVIEST TALIBAN ATTACKS SINCE THEY WERE OUSTED IN 2001. "MORE THAN 60 TALIBAN HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MANY WOUNDED. SIXTEEN CIVILIANS HAVE ALSO DIED AND 15 ARE HURT," GOVERNOR KHALID ASSADULLAH TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN KANDAHAR. THE U.S. MILITARY SAID 20 TALIBAN HAD BEEN CONFIRMED KILLED. UP TO 60 OTHER INSURGENTS WERE POSSIBLY DEAD, IT SAID. "AIR STRIKES WERE USED TO DESTROY A LARGE ENEMY WEAPONS CACHE AND SEVERAL TALIBAN COMPOUNDS," IT SAID. THE U.S. MILITARY WAS CHECKING REPORTS OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, A SPOKESWOMAN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY REUTERS.
