Afghan forces kill 12 militants in eastern Ghazni province

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 militants were killed as government forces launched cleanup operations outside Ghazni city, the capital of Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province, provincial government spokesman Arefu Nuri said Friday.

The cleanup operations were launched on Thursday afternoon and so far several villages have been cleared of insurgents, forcing militants to flee following leaving 12 bodies behind.

Taliban militants who are in control of parts of the relatively violent province, have not commented.