Security forces kill 30 Afghan insurgents

ABUL, Afghanistan, Dec 25:  The Afghan Interior Ministry says security forces have killed 30 suspected insurgents in a series of clashes around the country.



A ministry statement says the army, police and NATO troops launched a total of 11 operations in the past 24 hours across Afghanistan. It says seven insurgents were arrested.[break]



Sunday´s statement says the killed insurgents were armed and that weapons were recovered in the operations.



Separately, NATO says one of its helicopters crash landed in Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province on Sunday after taking small-arms fire from the ground. There were no injuries among the crew.



NATO relies on helicopters to avoid using roads that are frequently mined by the insurgents.

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