16 Afghan militants killed in separate incidents

A total of 16 Taliban militants were killed in separate incidents on Thursday, authorities said. "Eight Taliban militants were killed after a coalition forces' drone fired a missile on a militant hideout in Nari district of eastern Kunar province Thursday morning," the provincial police chief Habibullah Sayyedkhil told Xinhua. The militants tried to launch an attack on security forces before being killed, he noted. Four militants were killed when the roadside bombs they were planting in southern Helmand and neighboring Zabul province went off prematurely. In eastern Wardak province, four Taliban, including a Pakistani militant, were killed and two others wounded in engagements with security forces earlier on the day. The casualties on militants came as the country is preparing for the presidential and provincial councils elections slated for Saturday. The Taliban insurgent group fighting the government has vowed to disrupt the election process. More than 12 million eligible voters, with 35 percent women, are expected to cast their ballots on election day. Earlier on Thursday, one security force was killed and three people including a civilian were wounded in two roadside bombings in northern Faryab and southern Uruzgan provinces.