NATO and Afghanistan’s army forces have killed 55 Islamic rebels in south Afghanistan, after an attack by 150 rebels on Saturday at a military base in Uruzgan province.
The Taliban fighters have increased their attacks in the past few months against the Afghan army and NATO forces. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), under the control of NATO, consists of 31,000 soldiers from 37 nations. Last month NATO concluded Operation Medusa in the Panjawi District, during which it killed some 500 Taliban fighters.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Taliban announced on Saturday that the group’s leader, Mullah ‘Umar, refused to open negotiations with President Hamid Karzai. Mullah ‘Umar warned Karzai he would be prosecuted in front of an Islamic court for "committing massacres" against the Afghan people, the London-based daily A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported.
The Afghan authorities have placed a $10 million reward on Mullah ‘Umar’s head.