Taliban key commander among 12 killed in W. Afghanistan

QALA-E-NAW, Afghanistan, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Up to 12 militants including a key commander of Taliban outfit have been killed in Afghanistan's western Badghis province, provincial police spokesman Naqibullah Amini said on Sunday.

"The notorious Taliban commander Mawlawi Nazir nickname Mutamen who had served as the commander of the Taliban special force the Red Unit was killed along with 11 others in clashes with security forces in Abkamari district early today," Amini told Xinhua from provincial capital Qala-e-Naw city.

Without providing more details, the official added that 16 more militants and two security personnel were injured in the fighting.

Taliban militants have not commented on the report.