Kandahar, Sept 5, SPA -- Thirteen suspected Talibancombatants have been killed in fighting with U.S. andAfghan forces in a southern province, and more than 40other suspected militants have been arrested, a seniorAfghan official said Monday. Some 200 Afghan police, supported by the U.S.-ledcoalition, fought the militants in mountains of Ghorakdistrict in Kandahar province on Sunday night, saidKandahar Gov. Asadullah Khalid _ the latest violence aheadof landmark Sept. 18 elections. "We have the dead bodies," Khalid said, adding thatassault rifles and some ammunition was confiscated from thefighters. The Associated Press quoted Khalid as saying that 44 other suspects were arrested and that the Afghan and coalition forces had suffered no casualties. U.S. military spokesman Col. James Yonts on Mondayconfirmed that more than 40 suspected insurgents had beentaken into custody, but gave no further details about themilitary operation in Kandahar, which he said wascontinuing.--SPA1311 Local Time 1011 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/287217