Officials: 5 Taliban killed in NATO airstrike

KABUL: Officials say NATO-led coalition forces attacked a group of Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least five militants.

Coalition spokesman Capt. Luca Carniel said Sunday that NATO forces had carried out a ``precision strike'' in Paktia province the night before, killing five militants.

He gave no further information, but Paktia provincial police chief Gen. Zelmia Oryakhail says the airstrike targeted a group of Taliban moving down a road in a car and on three motorcycles.

Oryakhail says his reports indicate 12 Taliban were killed, including a sought-after regional leader. He says there were no civilian casualties.