12 militants killed in northern Afghanistan

　　FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 Taliban militants had been killed as security forces raided Taliban hideouts in Yamgan district of Badakhshan province with Faizabad as its capital 315 km northeast of Kabul Friday, deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Qadir Sayad said. "Acting upon intelligence report, the security forces stormed Taliban hideout in Tashgharmi village of Yamgan district in the wee hours of Friday. The operations lasted for a while during which 12 rebels had been killed and four others sustained injuries, " Sayad told reporters.

　　Five foreign militants are also among those killed during the operations, the official said without giving more details.

　　However, he contended that no security personnel had been harmed during the operations.

　　Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.