At least eight Afghan soldiers were killed with anther two arrested while suspected Taliban attacked an Afghan government checkpoint Monday at the main road linking with Kabul.

Meanwhile in Kabul, Afghan policemen supported by international peacekeepers arrested several suspected terrorists Monday, a spokeswoman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in Kabul on Tuesday.

According to a press briefing from the US-led coalition army, the US troops launched Operation Mountain Viper on 30 August. The operation was initiated when coalition forces assaulted into the mountains in the vicinity of Dai Chupan, in Zabul province to clear the area of suspected Taliban forces.

Operation Mountain Viper employed special operation forces and 10th Mountain Division ground forces.

The final phases of Operation Warrior Sweep including civil-military operations are on going. In recent operations the coalition estimated direct combat and close air support killed at least 37 anti-coalition soldiers.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2003)