12 militants killed in Afghanistan

At least 12 Taliban militants were killed in a series of clean-up operations since Saturday, the Afghan interior ministry said Sunday.

"Afghan National Police conducted several clearance operations with the cooperation of the army, National Directorate for Security and the NATO-led coalition forces in Kunar, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Wardak, Farah, Helmand and Nimroz provinces over the past 24 hours. As a result 12 armed Taliban were killed, 10 wounded and seven others were arrested," Xinhua quoted the Afghan interior ministry as saying in a statement.

The Afghan National Police also seized weapons and defused several improvised bombs, the statement said. The security forces have intensified operations against Taliban and other militant groups recently, and the insurgent have responded with bombings and armed attacks.