Diggers help capture Taliban leaders

Australian soldiers in Afghanistan have helped capture four Taliban leaders who had
planned to detonate explosive devices ahead of upcoming elections in the war-torn
country.

The insurgents were captured last weekend in a sweep operation in the Muzazai and
Kushkel districts, near Tarin Kowt, in southern Afghanistan.
Defence said Australian forces had helped the Afghan National Security Forces
disrupt the fundamentalist group's plans to detonate roadside bombs ahead of
presidential and provincial elections scheduled for August.
No Afghan or coalition forces were wounded, Defence said.
The Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said the capture of
the Taliban leaders would hinder the ability of insurgents to attack Afghan and
US-aligned forces.
"This will assist in facilitating the conduct of peaceful elections," Lieutenant
General Evans said in a statement.
"The psychological impact of the loss of these leaders on the Taliban network is
also not to be understated."
The captured insurgents had played an active role in laying roadside bombs, with the
raids also uncovering ammunition and explosive devices.
"Afghan and coalition forces have seized hand-grenades, rocket-propelled grenade
rounds and launchers, magazines and ammunition, radios, batteries and improvised
explosive device components," Lieutenant-General Evans said.
The raids were conducted on the same weekend that an explosive device injured an
Australian soldier from the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force
The explosion killed two Afghan soldiers.
"There is a high threat of road-side bombs in Oruzgan province and Afghan and
coalition forces remain on alert for a continuation of attacks leading up the
election," Defence said.
The captured Taliban leaders and insurgent supporters have been handed over to the
Afghan authorities.