Taleban claim nine Afghan soldiers dead

The Taleban say their men killed nine Afghan army soldiers in a February 12gun battle in the Girishk district of the southern province of Helmand. However, provincial officials could not confirm the losses, saying they were assessing casualties on both sides. Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, who says he is a spokesman for the movement, said the insurgents also captured several other soldiers and took them away. The spokesman said a local commander, Loy Lala, was among the pro-government soldiers killed in the ambush.