10 October 2004	Sunday	24 Shaban 1425

KANDAHAR, Oct 9: At least 24 suspected Taliban militants were killed on Saturday in a bombing raid by aircraft from the US-led coalition in the central province of Uruzgan, the provincial governor said.

Jan Mohammad Khan told Reuters that Taliban guerillas who have vowed to disrupt the poll attacked a convoy of Afghan and US-led troops in Char Cheno district, several hours before polling began in Afghanistan's landmark election.

The two sides engaged in a firefight before air support was called in, he said.

According to Khan, one local resident died in the bombing, but locals in the area said 14 civilians were either wounded or killed in the skirmish, among them women and children.

The fighting was the largest reported security incident to date on the day Afghans held their first direct presidential ballot.

Despite dire warnings of violence by the Taliban there have been fewer attacks than feared.

In Lashkar Gah, capital of the southern province of Helmand, six rockets were fired overnight, and two children were wounded.

In Kunar province, east of Kabul, several rockets were fired in two villages overnight but there were no casualties.

CONVOY ATTACKED: Three policemen were reportedly killed on Saturday when militants attacked a convoy carrying ballot boxes full of votes, a UN official said.

"An electoral convoy transporting ballot boxes was attacked in central Uruzgan province," UN spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva told reporters. The convoy was supported by troops from US-led coalition forces but "unfortunately it seems that three police escorts were killed," he said.-Reuters/AFP