20 Taliban killed after four attacks

paktribune: Taliban rebels launched four attacks in the southern Afghan province of Helmand yesterday leading to the death of three policemen and 20 fighters, according to police reports.

Police said it was the single biggest series of guerrilla attacks in Afghanistan for several months.

Some 200 insurgents were involved in the fighting.

The province has been blighted with violence after US forces ousted the Taliban in 2001. Up to 5,500 British troops are due to be deployed to the province later this year as Nato looks to expand its peacekeeping force.

The province is seen as a major opium-poppy growing and drug smuggling area.

Separately, the Dutch parliament has voted in favour of sending a 1,400-strong deployment of troops to Uruzgan province this year.

International development secretary, Hilary Benn, has acknowledged a "real danger" for British troops in Helmand. Link