Four U.S. troops were reported killed in fighting in eastern and southern Afghanistan today.
NATO said three of them died in insurgent attacks and one was killed by a homemade bomb.
The exact places where the casualties occurred were not given, although heavy fighting was reported in Jaji district of Paktia Province, near the border with Pakistan.
According to government officials, fighting across the country over the past two days has killed five Afghan soldiers and at least 17 militants.
Meanwhile, the independent Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan said that "election-related violence is escalating" as parliamentary election day -- September 18 -- approaches.
compiled from agency reports