Suspected Al-Qaeda Hideouts Raided In Afghanistan

British troops on the streets of Kabul (epa) August 16, 2006 -- The U.S. military says coalition troops and Afghan soldiers today raided two suspected Al-Qaeda sanctuaries in Afghanistan's southeastern province of Khost.

A U.S. military statement says troops seized weapons and explosives and arrested eight people believed to be "Al-Qaeda facilitators."

At least another 12 people with purported links to Al-Qaeda were arrested on August 15 in Khost Province.

Also today, the Canadian military reported insurgents hit one of its bases in southern Afghanistan with mortar fire, wounding at least six soldiers. The incident took place late on August 15 in Kandahar Province's Panjwayi district.

(Pahjwok, AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)