Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Senior Taleban Leader Killed in Afghanistan
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1575163:A6F02AD83191E160D3EB35CFCACEA7239574F7DCC14957C0 US-led coalition
forces say they have killed Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani, a close
associate of Osama bin Laden U.S.-led coalition forces say they have
killed Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani, a Taleban leader in southern
Afghanistan who was a close associate of Osama bin Laden.

A coalition statement released Saturday, said credible intelligence
led coalition forces to Osmani's location in Helmand Province, near
the border with Pakistan.

The statement said Osmani and two unidentified associates were killed
instantly in an air strike on Tuesday as their vehicle traveled in a
deserted area.

Coalition officials say Osmani was the Taleban's chief of military
operations in the provinces of Uruzgan, Nimroz, Kandahar, Farah, Herat
and Helmand.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Tom Collins said Osmani played a central
role in facilitation terrorist operations involving Taleban, al-Qaida
and the Haqqani Network.

Collins said Osmani was in the top ring of the Taleban leadership and
a close associate of Osama bin Laden. The colonel called the death a
major achievement in the fight against extremists and their terrorist
networks.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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