Afghan forces kill 26 Taliban rebels

KHOST, (Afghanistan): Afghan and coalition forces killed 26 Taliban on the country's border with Pakistan on Wednesday while four civilians were killed in rocket attacks in the same area, a provincial governor said.

The rebels were killed in an operation in southeastern Paktika province that was launched in response to attacks in the Ziruk district, governor Mohammad Akram Khapelwak said.

"Twenty-six Taliban have been killed so far in the firefight. The operation is still ongoing," he said.

"It was a joint Afghan forces and coalition operation," he said.

Four civilians were killed in the same province on Wednesday by three rockets that landed on homes in the Barmal district, also on the border with Pakistan, the governor said. Another 18 civilians were wounded, he said.

Regional military corps commander General Sami-ul-Haq said the target might have been army units in the area but the rockets landed on civilian houses. He put the death toll at two with nine wounded.

Similar attacks have been blamed on Taliban insurgents, many of whom are said to be based across the border.