41 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

KUNDUZ - Forty-one Taliban militants were killed in fighting with security forces in Afghanistan’s northern province of Kunduz, police said Thursday.

The fighting took place Wednesday night in Gul Bagh village of Chardara district and Gur Tipa village outside Kunduz city, the provincial capital.

The operation was backed by US Special Forces, Xinhua said, citing police spokesman Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai.

Several foreign militants were among the dead, he said, adding a rebel commander was arrested. Four suicide bomb vests were seized.

Chardara and Gur Tipa areas are considered strongholds of the Taliban.