From the Sydney Morning Herald last night: April 15, 2006 "41 Taliban fighters killed in gun battle Email Print Normal font Large font April 15, 2006 Advertisement AdvertisementForty-one suspected Taliban and six policemen were killed in a major battle in southern Afghanistan in an area where the Taliban leader once lived, authorities said. The battle southwest of Kandahar city lasted almost the entire day yesterday, with helicopters from the US-led coalition firing rockets in support of Afghan forces on the ground. "In the result, 41 Taliban were killed, a big number of them were wounded," Kandahar governor Assadullah Khalid said today. "Six police were martyred, nine police were wounded," he said, adding that three civilians were wounded and 13 Taliban were arrested." This appears to be the same fight. It appears only the US & Afghans are getting the credit. Cheers.

More from the Sydney Morning Herald today: "Australian troops ready for Afghanistan Email Print Normal font Large font April 16, 2006 - 2:44PM Advertisement AdvertisementAustralian troops are equipped and trained to deal with the apparently worsening security situation in Afghanistan, the defence force says. Coalition troops have been involved in a major operation against Taliban forces, with a fierce gun battle leaving 41 rebels and six Afghan police officers dead in the southern province of Kandahar. Authorities in southern Afghanistan, where Australian troops are based, have complained of a deteriorating security environment. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) said it could not confirm whether Australian special forces troops based in the southern province of Oruzgan were involved in the latest operation, but said they were equipped and trained to handle anything. "Afghanistan remains a dangerous place but Australian forces are well prepared to operate in the area," a defence spokesman said. "The ADF will not comment on the security situation in specific areas." The latest clash involved an intense battle on Saturday after Afghan security forces backed by coalition helicopters attacked a suspected Taliban hideout. Provincial governor Asadullah Khalid said 41 militants were killed and several wounded, while six police died and nine were wounded. The US military said coalition forces provided Apache attack helicopters, which fired rockets in support of Afghan forces on the ground. It was some of the heaviest fighting reported during the recent upsurge of violence that threatens Afghanistan's shaky democracy. Coalition forces are now searching for Taliban fighters who escaped from the battle. Australian Special Air Service Regiment troops have already exchanged fire with anti-government forces in Oruzgan province and defence force chief Angus Houston warned in February of a rising incidence of suicide bombings. The SAS troops are part of a 300-member Australian special forces task group also in Oruzgan. A 200-member Provincial Reconstruction Team, due to deploy in July, will take Australian troop numbers in Afghanistan to 500. They will also be based in Oruzgan, operating within a larger Dutch force of 1,400 troops. But the reconstruction team, a combined force of engineers and infantry, will enjoy substantial protection, with the Dutch contingent also including infantry as well as attack helicopters and jet fighter-bombers. Southern Afghanistan was the stronghold of the Taliban until late 2001, when their government was ousted as a result of US-led attacks. Since then, Taliban forces have targeted coalition and Afghan troops and have stepped up attacks over the past year." More Aussies coming to help. Cheers. PS You should write to the SMH and tell them to give credit to the Canadians! Don't let the Yanks get it all.

there was an interview in the paper this morning with a canadian officer present at the fight. he said it was unfortunate the afghans hadn't consulted with the canadians before the fighting started as they could have used the lav's to support them etc and reduced their losses. i've also seen it reported that they think 4 of the 6 afghans lost were killed by their own gunship support.

Griffin, Thanks very much for your post. It is unfortunate, but not surprising that the U.S. MSM does not cover what the Canadian forces are accomplishing in Afghanistan.

Here is part of an article you may find interesting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 Taliban killed, 13 captured in battle, Kandahar governor says Forty-one Taliban fighters were killed and 13 captured in a battle with Afghan forces that drew about 100 Canadian troops as reinforcements, the governor of Kandahar province said on Saturday. The battle took place Friday near the town of Singisar in southern Afghanistan, where the Taliban movement was founded in the early 1990s, Assadullah Khalid told Agence Presse International. Singisar is also the birthplace of Taliban leader Mullah Omar. A large band of Taliban fighters, which had been driven out of neighbouring Helmand province by U.S. troops last week, was discovered near the town on Friday by members of the Afghan National Police, Khalid said. The police called in reinforcements from the Afghan National Army. When that wasn't enough, the call went out for Canadian troops and artillery. According to Canadian military officials in Kandahar, the sudden appearance of the Canadians, along with coalition helicopters, intimidated the Taliban fighters, who began to retreat into the compounds. U.S. helicopter gunships raked the compounds with rocket fire before Afghan police stormed in, wearing no body armour and carrying only assault rifles, he said. A Canadian light armoured vehicle fired at Taliban forces after it was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The attack left the vehicle with a blown tire that was repaired at the scene of the attack. "They [Afghan forces] are very, very brave. I applaud their determination not to put up with continued attacks by the Taliban," Hope told reporters. He said Canadian soldiers were on the hunt for insurgents in villages southwest of Kandahar on Saturday, searching for Taliban fighters who managed to escape the gun battle.