 Afghan soldiers and police overran a hideout where a large group of suspected Taliban were preparing to disrupt upcoming presidential elections, prompting a three-hour firefight that left seven insurgents dead, officials said Tuesday. The fighting broke out at about 3 p.m. Monday in a mountainous area of southern Uruzgan province, hours after rebels had attacked a police checkpoint, said Matiullah Khan, the provincial chief of police. Police in pursuit followed the rebels into the mountains, where they came across dozens of other Taliban fighters. Seven rebels were killed, and five others arrested. The Afghan forces suffered no casualties. Khan said officials believe the men were plotting to launch attacks ahead of landmark Oct. 9 presidential elections, though he gave no specifics on what they might have been up to. "We have increased our security all over the province because of the election," said Khan. "We don't want any of the Taliban to be in a position to attack polling sites." Khan said authorities found five missiles, as well as automatic weapons, after a search of the hideout. The remaining rebels fled deeper into the mountains. |