U.S., Afghan Troops Kill 5 Taliban

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. and Afghan troops traded gunfire with rebels in a mountainous Taliban (search)stronghold, killing five and capturing seven, officials said Friday.

The clash occurred Wednesday near Daychopan, 190 miles southwest of the capital, Kabul (search), said Ali Khel, a spokesman for the provincial government.

U.S. spokesman Maj. Rick Peat said one Afghan soldier was wounded in the clash, which broke out when a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol encountered a group of militants.

He said the detained fighters were carrying rocket-propelled grenades and homemade bombs.

Daychopan has been the focus of some of the most bloody fighting in almost a year. U.S. and Afghan officials say they have killed about 100 militants in the region since late May.