Nato-led troops killed 17 suspected insurgents who were placing roadside bombs in southern Afghanistan, an alliance statement said today.
The alleged insurgents were discovered placing the explosives outside a military base in the southern Uruzgan province yesterday.
Nato troops then initiated a gun battle and alliance aircraft later dropped two bombs on them, the statement said.
Five insurgent vehicles were also destroyed in the clash. No Nato troops were wounded, according to the statement.