A battle in a militant-controlled region of western Afghanistan killed 30 Taliban fighters and nine Afghan soldiers. Violence elsewhere in the country killed 17 others, part of a spate of attacks that killed 56 people over all.The battle in Badghis province began on Friday and continued into Saturday. Afghan troops supported by international forces killed 30 Taliban in the Bala Murghab. Nine Afghan soldiers died in the battle, and four "disappeared", the Defence Ministry said.
In other violence, five Taliban were killed in an operation in the Musa Qala region of southern Helmand province on Friday, the Interior Ministry said.
Meanwhile, six Taliban were killed during a battle with police in the western province of Farah on Friday, police spokesman Raouf Ahmadi said. Two would-be suicide attackers were also shot and killed in Herat, on Friday, he said. Meanwhile, in Kandahar province, a roadside bomb killed four civilians on Friday, provincial Police Chief Deputy Abdullah Khan said.