Eighteen Taliban and one policeman have been killed as Afghan forces and coalition aircraft raided an insurgent hideout in the country's south, police said on Wednesday. The fighting took place late on Tuesday near the Helmand province town of Garmser, where Afghan forces have been hunting insurgents following last month's brief takeover of the town by the Taliban.The violence occurred on the same day a Taliban ambush killed three British soldiers and seriously wounded a fourth in the north of the province. NATO said insurgents attacked one of its positions in the north of the province on Wednesday with light weapons, wounding one of its soldiers. No further details were provided.
Meanwhile, US-led coalition spokesman, US Col Tom Collins, said pamphlets from Taliban leader Mulla Omar had been distributed recently in Afghanistan. The pamphlets urged people to rise up against the US and its allies, claiming they were "out to destroy Muslims" and expressing pride in suicide bombers, even if they kill innocent civilians, Collins said.