Thursday, May 18 2006 12:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kandahar: Thirteen police were killed in two major battles in southern Afghanistan in which a Canadian soldier lost her life and nearly 60 Taliban rebels died,police and the US-led coalition said today (May 18, 2006).

One battle raged in Helmand province for several hours late yesterday after police stormed a district on a tip-off that Taliban fighters had gathered there, interior ministry spokesman Yousuf Stanizai said.

Thirteen police were killed, seven wounded and two missing after the hours-long fighting in Musa Qala district, Stanizai said in the capital Kabul.

"Last night police received information that the Taliban has gathered in the area and stormed the area and the fighting took place. The fighting lasted for several hours," said.

"Around 40 Taliban were killed and they have left behind the bodies of 10," he said. The militants often take the bodies of their dead away with them.

"Five Taliban with a land cruiser vehicle were captured," he said, adding that five others were captured in a sweep after the battle.

Afghan security forces backed by Canadian coalition troops meanwhile fought Taliban fighters for most of the day Wednesday and into Thursday in neighbouring Kandahar province.

A Canadian soldier was killed in the battle, becoming the first Canadian woman to die in combat since World War II.

"Eighteen Taliban have been killed and 35 are detained," coalition spokesman Major Quentin Innis told sources today.

"In the afternoon, villagers told the coalition forces that Taliban where hiding in a mosque. The coalition cordoned it off and the ANA (Afghan National Army) went in," he said.