Afghan and NATO troops killed more than 30 Taliban fighters during a battle lasting several hours in southern Afghanistan, police and the defence ministry say.

Thirty four aid workers were killed in Afghanistan this year. The U.N. accused militants and criminals of these misdeeds. It also called on armed groups to stop attacks on humanitarian convoys so food can reach millions of poor Afghans.

The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan says troops have killed about 80 Taliban fighters in a six-hour battle in the south of the country.

NATO says two alliance soldiers have been killed and three others wounded in a firefight with Taliban insurgents in eastern Afghanistan.

The Australian Government is calling on NATO to deploy more troops to Afghanistan to get the job done properly. The small Australian contingent is part of a 41,000-strong force fighting against Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents.

An Australian special forces soldier with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) has been shot and killed in Afghanistan.

NATO countries, which are being pressed for greater troop contributions in Afghanistan, are scaling back a 2,500-member rapid reaction force that is to respond to international crises.

For the first time as prime minister, Gordon Brown has met Afghan President Hamid Karzai at 10 Downing Street. Brown said Britain's commitment to Afghanistan was long term and he urged other countries to do more in sharing the burden.

UNICEF said Thursday that Afghan children are at greater danger than ever since 2002 because of continued fighting between Taliban militants and the U.S.-led coalition.

A new survey of public opinion in Afghanistan indicates a sharp rise in concern over security. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that a majority of Afghans polled say they oppose the cultivation of opium poppies, but few believe the drug trade is linked to the Taliban insurgency.

Turkey’s border with Iraq and U.S. demands for Europe to be more active in Afghanistan are expected to be main issues on a meeting of NATO defense ministers opening Wednesday in the Netherlands.

President Bush has sent an emergency request to the U.S. Congress for an extra $46 billion in expedited funds for Iraq, Afghanistan and other national security needs. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports the money is in addition to the $145 billion in war-related spending included in his original 2008 budget.