Boat With 60 On Board Sinks In Afghanistan

(RFE/RL) June 2, 2007 -- Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said today a boat with about 60 people on board sank in a river in the southern Helmand Province.

A ministry spokesman said authorities were trying to determine whether anyone had died in the accident on the Helmand River and whether any Taliban fighters were on board.

Helmand Province is a traditional Taliban stronghold.

The Defense Ministry said today 20 militants were killed in an operation that NATO, U.S., and Afghan forces launched this week against the Taliban.

(compiled from agency reports)