Afghan women shot dead by Taleban

Two Afghan women have been shot dead by Taleban militants in the country's central Ghazni province.

Taleban fighters told the Associated Press that the women had been operating a prostitution ring for American soldiers and foreign contractors.

They also claimed that the women had been working for the local police.

A spokesman for the Ghazni governor said the dead women were "innocent local people" and the US has also dismissed the allegations.

US military spokesman 1st Lt Nathan Perry said he had never heard of "anything close to that nature".

Ghazni officials told Agence France Presse that the women, killed late on Saturday, had no connection with the government.