KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 12, SPA -- International and Afghan armyforces killed four militants in a battle in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said. The troops were attacked by gunfire and rocket-propelledgrenades Saturday while patrolling in Shinkay district ofZabul province. They fired back and called in close-airsupport, a U.S. statement was quoted as saying by Associated Press. Though the U.S. statement says four militants died in thebattle, the provincial police chief said he had reports ofas many as 22 Taliban killed. Abdul Rahman Furjung saidthat four bodies had been brought to the district policestation but that locals reported finding many more dead inthe area. Neither Furjung nor the U.S. military reported anycivilian casualties, and the U.S. said no Afghan army orcoalition troops were wounded. On the same day, a suicide bomber was killed inneighboring Helmand province when he tried to enter apolice station, the Interior Ministry said. Police shot thewould-be bomber before he could enter the compound and hisexplosives detonated. The attacker was the only personkilled, the ministry said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/653621