KABUL, Afghanistan, April 29, SPA -- Afghan and foreign troops called in air strikes as they battled insurgents in a series ofclashes that left at least 23 insurgents dead and 20 otherswounded, officials said Tuesday. The clashes happened in eastern and southern Afghanistan,where Taliban and other groups are waging aninsurgency against government and foreign forces, the Associated Press reported. The joint forces clashed with insurgents in the Qarabaghdistrict of Ghazni province on Monday, leaving six Talibanfighters dead and eight others wounded, said Zia Wali, aspokesman for the provincial governor. There were no casualties among the Afghan and foreignforces, Wali said. In southwestern Nimroz province, U.S.-led coalition andAfghan troops killed several insurgents Monday during aclash in Khash Rod district, a coalition statement saidTuesday. The troops were targeting an insurgent involved in themovement of weapons and fighters in the area, it said. Theydetained 14 other suspected insurgents during the raid. In other violence, U.S. and Afghan troops fought offcoordinated insurgent attacks in eastern Afghanistan andcalled in airstrikes that left a dozen insurgents dead and adozen more wounded, the U.S. military said in a statement. As many as 40 insurgents attacked five military outpostsSunday in the Korangal Valley of eastern Kunar provinceusing small-arms fire, rockets and mortars, the statementsaid. No U.S. or Afghan soldiers were hurt, the Associated Press reported.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/550876