(12 Apr 2005) SHOTLIST
near Khost, 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Kabul
1. Wide shot smoke rising from hillside in distance
2. Body believed to be of militiaman killed in battle
3. More of the hills around Khost
4. Helicopters overhead
Kabul
5. Coalition forces headquarters' exterior
6. Set up shot of Lieutenant Cindy Moore, US military spokeswoman
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lieutenant Cindy Moore, US military spokeswoman:
"Approximately 12 anti-coalition militia were killed, and we had two coalition forces, US military, that were wounded - and they were treated and they were in stable condition yesterday."
5. Cutaway
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lieutenant Cindy Moore, US military spokeswoman:
"Afghan forces requested support from coalition forces and as a part of that request we had ground and close air support that provided additional support for the Afghan forces between Khost and Gardez."
7. Various flags of coalition forces countries
STORYLINE:
U.S. troops and warplanes reinforced Afghan forces ambushed on a high mountain pass for a firefight that left about 12 militants dead and two American soldiers wounded, officials said on Tuesday.
U.S. forces scrambled to the aid of a convoy of government troops that came under fire on Monday from 30-35 militants on a mountain pass near Khost, 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Kabul, American and Afghan officials said.
The two injured U.S. soldiers were airlifted to the main U.S. base at Bagram for treatment and were listed in stable condition.
Afghan police blamed Taliban rebels for the attack and suggested Afghan General Khial Baz, a former senior military commander travelling in the convoy, was their target. None of the Afghans were reported hurt.
Khost is a former stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaida militants close to the Pakistani frontier, and sees regular skirmishes between militants and Afghan and U.S. forces. It is also riven by violent factional and tribal disputes.
Baz, who survived several earlier attacks, commanded a provincial militia that worked closely with U.S. troops until it was disbanded earlier this year under a disarmament programme. He has survived several attacks.
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