More than 50 Taliban militants were killed in a two-day battle as the militants tried to wage an attack to Sangin district of southern Afghan province of Helmand, according to Afghanistan's Defense Ministry Wednesday.

 

The Taliban outfits who fled from nearby Musa Qala district started the attack on the government center of Sangin, said a statement of the ministry.

 

"Afghan army backed by the airstrikes from NATO troops killed more than 50 Taliban militants, among them were three commanders and three other foreign fighters," it said.

 

"When the terrorists were defeated in Musa Qala, they escaped to Sangin and started firing in and around Sangin," the statement said, adding that no civilians were hurt or killed in the operation.

 

Afghan National Army successfully secured the center of Musa Qala district on Tuesday, where fell in the control of Taliban since February 2007 when British troops pulled out the district under a deal struck with the tribal elders.

 

Moreover, The Taliban are still in the control of Baghran, Nawzad and Washir districts of Helmand province, according to officials.

 

The war-torn country witnessed the bloodiest violence in 2007 as rising militancy-related violence and conflicts have killed over 6,000 people mostly insurgents this year.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2007)