KABUL, Afghanistan, March 23, SPA -- Two soldiers from the U.S.-led coalition were killed in southern Afghanistan when theirpatrol vehicle struck a roadside bomb, the coalition saidSunday. The soldiers had been conducting a security patroltogether with Afghan troops on Saturday in Kandaharprovince when the incident occurred. A coalition statementdid not release the nationalities of the two soldiers. Separately, in neighboring Zabul province, Afghan andcoalition forces launched an operation targeting Talibaninsurgents Saturday. The ensuing one-hour gun battle inShahjoy district left four insurgents dead and threewounded, said Zabul deputy provincial police chiefFaridullah Khan. Three insurgents were arrested, Khan said, adding thatthere were no casualties among Afghan or coalition forces. Last year was the most violent in Afghanistan since the2001 U.S.-led invasion. The U.N. says more than 8,000people died in insurgency related violence, according to a report of the Associated Press.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/538966