NATO Troops, Insurgents Killed in Afghanistan

Posted June 15th, 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC-5)
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Two NATO troops and 32 insurgents have been killed in violence throughout Afghanistan.

NATO said the service members were killed in insurgent attacks in the country's south and east on Friday. It did not give their nationalities.

The latest deaths come as the number of American troops killed in the more than 10-year Afghan war crossed 2,000 this week.

Also Friday, Afghan and coalition officials say two commanders with the militant Haqqani network and 32 insurgents were killed in Sharana, the capital of the eastern province of Paktika.

And in other news, Human Rights Watch called on the Afghan government to reverse its suspension of the Solidarity Party for reportedly organizing a protest calling for accountability for war crimes.

The New York-based rights group said Afghanistan's upper house of parliament suspended the party last month.

Human Rights Watch says the Solidarity Party has not fielded political candidates, but has been outspoken on controversial issues, including organizing street protests against the international presence in Afghanistan, the execution of Afghans in Iran and civilian casualties caused by international troops.

HRW Asia director Brad Adams said Friday that “governments should not suspend a political party simply because they don't like the party's positions or statements.”

Afghan government officials were not available for immediate comment.