Afghan actor killed in NATO airstrike

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, March 10 (UPI) -- A famous Afghan actor, Nazar Mohammad Majnonyar Helmandi, was killed in a NATO airstrike in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Helmandi starred in more than a dozen films focusing on the struggle against drug trafficking and terrorism, RIA Novosti reported Sunday.

Three militants, who had seized Helmandi on suspicion of spying for the government, were also killed, RIA Novosti said.

The militants were interrogating Helmandi when the airstrike took place, RIA Novosti said.

A local rebel commander, Mohammad Alam, was also among those killed, police said.