7 soldiers killed in Afghan attacks within day

A total of seven Afghan army soldiers were killed in separate attacks since early Monday, said the country's Defense Ministry on Tuesday. "As a result of enemies'heavy weapons firing, seven Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel were martyred over the past 24 hours, "the ministry said in a statement.

The army also waged offensives and killed 15 militants in Paktika, Helmand, Kandahar, Herat and Nimroz province besides recovering weapons and drugs within the same period, the statement said. "During the raids, several militants were wounded, six others detained and the ANA also recovered 82 kg heroin, 13 bags of opium and defused 51 roadside bombs and landmines,"according to statement.

Elsewhere, six militants were killed and one police and a civilian were wounded after armed militants launched an attack on security checkpoints in Tagab district of northern Badakhshan province overnight, deputy provincial police chief Abdul Qadir Sayyad told Xinhua earlier.

Afghan security forces have pressed on clearing the militants in restive provinces as they assumed earlier this month the full security charges from NATO-led troops after a four-year security transition process ending on Dec. 31 last year. Endi