Taliban kills 5 civilians in E Afghanistan

Taliban militants kidnapped seven Afghan civilians and killed five of them in Afghanistan's eastern Khost province, a statement of Afghan Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

"Taliban militants for unknown reason kidnapped seven villagers on Sunday and killed five of them," the statement said.

It also said that the fate of the remaining two is unclear.

"The Interior Ministry strongly condemned the attack and initiated an investigation into the case," it added.

In a separate incident, Afghan and NATO-led troops during an operation eliminated two militants in Zani Khil district of Khost province on Monday, the statement said.

Taliban militants, who vowed to intensify their activities against Afghan and the NATO-led troops, have yet to make comments.

Source: Xinhua