Tuesday, July 11 2006 17:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kabul: Afghan and the U.S.-led coalition forces in their latest operation against Taliban-linked militants eliminated 30 insurgents in the troubled southern Helmand province on Tuesday.

"Early morning on 11th July Afghan and coalition forces conducted an operation in Sangin district and at least 30 Taliban militants were killed," Julie Roberge, a spokesperson of the coalition told sources.

"The aim of the operation is to kill or capture Taliban commanders in the region," she added.

She also confirmed that a helicopter of the coalition forces developed technical problems on departure from the volatile region but did not give more details.

This operation coincided with the visit of the U.S. Secretary for Defense Donald Rumsfeld to the Afghan capital where he would reassure Washington's firm support to President Hamid Karzai's government.

Another 40 suspected Taliban operatives, according to a press release of the U.S. military were killed in the neighboring Uruzgan province on Monday.

More than 1,000 people, mostly Taliban-linked militants have been killed in Afghanistan since January this year.