A compound in the eastern region of Afghanistan in which alleged Taliban fighters were hiding was surrounded and attacked by coalition and Afghan troops in the early hours of the day. Six militants were killed, while another one was injured in the fire exchange, coalition officials reported.

A dozen Taliban fighters died in western Afghanistan after a larger group of militants attacked a governmental building, triggering a fierce gunfight with security troops in the area. Three policemen died in the crossfire, eight being injured, the local police informed Wednesday.

Another similar attack left one serviceman and several insurgents dead in the same province of Farah.

Operations initiated by the US-led coalition forces were carried out in regions believed to host underground networks of the insurgency, six suspected militants being detained, while two were shot dead, the Afghan Defence Ministry reported.

Elsewhere, a suicide attack was stopped by police officers in Kabul, the bomber being arrested as he was preparing to detonate his explosives-packed vest in a crowded area. The terrorist was a young Afghan citizen, but the investigators could only find out his name due to the strong will and precise orders the Taliban fighters have.