Fourteen militants killed in Afghanistan

Kabul, April 6 (Xinhua) Fourteen militants have been killed by the Afghan army and US-led coalition forces in Qalat district in southern Afghanistan, the army said in a statement here.

'The Afghan National Army (ANA) led force conducted a combat reconnaissance patrol in an area of known militant presence when they were attacked by armed militants with heavy small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire,' it said Sunday.

It added that 'after positively identifying the armed militants, the combined element returned fire with small-arms and close air support, killing 14 militants.'

The combined forces also discovered a cache of improvised explosive device making materials and several explosives which were destroyed by the ANA, it said. 'No coalition forces or civilian casualties were reported during this operation.'