KABUL, Afghanistan, October 21, SPA -- Taliban militants used Afghan civilians as human shields during a battle with U.S. forcesin eastern Afghanistan in which 20 Taliban and one civilianwere killed and 11 civilians wounded, officials saidSunday. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said the joint Afghan-NATOoperation began Friday in the Korengal Valley in Kunarprovince _ next to the border with Pakistan _ withartillery fire and air strikes. Twenty «enemy» fightershad been killed, the ministry said. Kunar Gov. Didar Shalizai said one civilian had also beenkilled, while Maj. Charles Anthony, spokesman for NATO'sInternational Security Assistance Force, said 11 civilianshad been wounded. Three had been transported to the U.S. base at Bagram for medical care, he said. «After talking with elders in the area it does seem theTaliban are using civilians as human shields or firing onISAF forces from positions with civilians in the area,»Anthony was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/492016