Scores of Taliban killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 24 (UPI) -- Coalition and Afghan forces have killed at least 65 Taliban militants in new offensives in Afghanistan, the BBC said.

The combined forces struck at a large group in Zharie district in Kandahar Friday, and forces fought a battle in neighboring Uruzgan province the same day, the BBC reported.

An official military statement said militants in the Zharie district fled, taking civilians with them to use as shields.

The statement said about 40 Taliban hiding in an orchard in Uruzgan were killed in a protracted battle.