Airstrikes kill 6 militants including key commander in S. Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six militants including Taliban key commander Zarqawi were killed in airstrikes on the militant group in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, army spokesman in the southern region Mohammed Sediq Eisa said Tuesday.

The air raids, according to the spokesman, were launched by the U.S.-led coalition forces late in Ghorak district on Monday night, killing Zarqawi and five others.

Zarqawi, who served as a shadow deputy governor for Kandahar province, was a brutal Taliban commander and his death could prove a major blow to the militants in Kandahar and its vicinity, the spokesman said.

The Taliban group has yet to comment on the report.