Afghan troops backed by international forces have killed 20 suspected Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan' s eastern Paktia province during an overnight engagement, provincial police chief Asmatullah Alizai said Monday.

"A group of Taliban militants were poised to attack government interests but Afghan troops backed by foreign troops' air support pounded their positions late Sunday night killing 20 of them including their group commander Mullah Qalam on the spot," Alizai told Xinhua.

He added that the incident occurred in an area located between Gardisari and Sawak districts and several bodies of the rebels were left behind.

Taliban outfit has not made any comments.

Spiraling conflicts and Taliban-related violence have left more than 1,500 people including militants, Afghan and international troops as well as civilians dead so far this year in Afghanistan.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2008)