Afghan, NATO forces kill 17 Taliban in south

Afghan and NATO troops targeted a group of Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan, killing 17 militants and wounding six others, the Defense Ministry said Monday.

Four police were killed separately in a militant ambush in central Ghazni province, a provincial official said.

The joint force clashed Sunday with militants in the Marjah district of Helmand province, the ministry said in a statement. The troops seized weapons and ammunition belonging to the militants and 132 pounds (60 kilograms) of drugs after the clash, it said.