'Al-Qaeda' arrests in Afghanistan

US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan say they have detained four suspected al-Qaeda militants in the eastern part of the country.

The militants were picked up during an operation near Sal Kalay area of Khost province, a coalition spokesman said.

Meanwhile, up to 18 Taleban fighters have died in separate clashes with security forces, Afghan officials say.

Al-Qaeda and Taleban militants have mounted a series of attacks in Afghanistan in recent months.

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Coalition spokesman Col Thomas Collins said Saturday morning's raid in Khost "should put all terrorists on notice.

"The purpose of the operation was to capture al-Qaeda operatives who have been involved in the planning of attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan," he said.

"Each day we gain greater intelligence and greater ability to find terrorists who offer nothing to the Afghan people but fear and intimidation."

Coalition forces said some arms and a briefcase of "extremist-related" documents were recovered from the scene.

The troops faced no resistance during the operation, and there were no casualties, he added.

Policemen killed

As many as 14 Taleban fighters have meanwhile been killed in Garmser district in the southern province of Helmand, according to Afghan officials.

The militants were reportedly killed on Friday by a combination of artillery attacks and air strikes.

Another four Taleban suspects were killed in the north-eastern province of Kapisa on Thursday, an interior ministry spokesman said.

Two policemen were also killed in separate attacks in the province, the spokesman said.

At least two policemen were also killed while guarding a historical site in the northern province of Dawlatabad, near the border with Uzbekistan.

Naserullah Staekzai, the deputy minister for information and culture, told the Associated Press news agency smugglers are suspected to be behind the attack.

Most of the violence linked to the al-Qaeda and Taleban militants has been in the south and east, in provinces bordering Pakistan.

Nato is due to take over operations from the Americans in southern Afghanistan later this year, and is expected to deploy up to 21,000 soldiers there.