20 Taliban men killed in major Afghan operation

KABUL: More than 20 insurgents have been killed in a major offensive against Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)  led force said on Sunday, a day after the drive was launched.

Operation Medusa, involving both Afghan and NATO troops, kicked off in southern Kandahar province on Saturday with the aim of driving Taliban militants from a rebel stronghold in the Panjwayi area.

"We all see signs that the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troop presence in the area is doing just that with more than 20 insurgents killed there in recent action," an ISAF spokesman said.

NATO's ISAF currently has more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan from over 35 nations.