KABUL, Afghanistan, December 13, SPA -- U.S. and Afghan forces say they have killed six militants and detained 16 suspectedmilitants in operations in southern Afghanistan. Afghan and coalition forces killed five militants infighting Thursday and Friday in Helmand province. Thecoalition force says the troops also discovered bomb-makingmaterials during the operations. The U.S. coalition says it also killed one militant inZabul province during an operation Friday. Associated Press quoted a coalition statement as saying that the forces also detained eight militants inZabul and eight more in an area east of Kabul during aseparate operation. Violence in Afghanistan has risen steadily over the lasttwo years. More than 6,000 people have died in insurgencyrelated violence in 2008.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/615989