KANDAHAR, Feb 5: Three Afghan soldiers and five guerillas were killed in a fresh outbreak of fighting in the troubled southern province of Kandahar on Wednesday.

Khan Mohammad, deputy governor of Kandahar, said the “light” fighting was continuing at Kardwey, in the district of Shah Wali Kot, roughly 120kms northwest of Kandahar city.

He said five extremists had also been arrested. They included one Taliban commander, Mullah Abdul Hamid, who was injured in the clash. Three Afghan soldiers were also injured.

Khan Mohammad said the skirmish erupted on Tuesday after a government patrol sent to the area was ambushed by men firing rifles.

“It is a mountainous area, so it is difficult for the enemy to carry heavy weapons. The fighting is very light, just Kalashnikov rifles,” the governor said.

“We have the area surrounded and we are confident the fighting will be finished by nightfall.”

The fighting comes a week after heavy clashes around 80kms southeast of Kandahar between US-led troops and anti-government fighters resulted in the deaths of at least 18 guerillas.

US troops scoured a massive mountain cave complex, believed to form a base for supporters of the anti-government Hezb-i-Islami, for the eighth day running.

TRUCK EXPLODES: A fuel truck exploded in Kabul near a United Nations fuel supply point on Wednesday, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.