27 die in Afghanistan violence

KABUJL, Afghanistan, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Stepped-up violence in southern Afghanistan has killed at least 25 Taliban fighters and two civilians, the interior ministry reported in Kabul Thursday.

Among those reported killed was Mullah Naqibullah, a fugitive Taliban commander who twice broke out of jail, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, said.

Meanwhile, the U.N. said the increase in violence had made many Afghanistan refugees now in Iran and Pakistan reluctant to return home