The fighters died in a battle with Afghan and Nato-led forces on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province.

A spokesman for Helmand's governor said the fighters were trying to attack the city when security forces hit back.

There were conflicting claims about the extent of the Taleban losses.

Afghan officials said 130 Taleban had been killed, but a spokesman for the British army told the BBC the number was closer to 50.

Three sides

Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for Helmand's governor, told the Associated Press news agency that the Taleban attacked the city from three sides, using rockets and other heavy weapons.

But they were pushed back by the security forces, he said, adding that there were no casualties among Afghan or Nato troops. .

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed that they attacked the insurgents, who were seen gathering on the outskirts of the city, prior to launching a mortar attack.

"During this counter-attack, ISAF forces successfully conducted an air strike in which multiple enemy forces were killed," a ISAF statement said.

Elsewhere in Helmand, Mr Ahmadi said another dozens of fighters had been killed in a three-day battle which ended on Saturday, after foreign and Afghan forces retook the centre of Nad Ali district, which had been held by Taleban fighters.

BBC