KANDAHAR: Two air strikes over the weekend in southern Afghanistan killed 16 insurgents, Afghan officials said.

A statement released late Tuesday by the governor of southern Helmand province said 13 militants were killed in a Nato air strike on a bazaar in Kajaki district. The statement said the Taliban were using the targeted site as a control centre and to hold meetings.

The same day, an air strike in Nad-i-Ali district killed three local Taliban leaders. The statement said the targeted leaders had coordinated attacks on Afghan army forces and Nato troops.

The governor's office said no civilians were injured in Sunday's strikes.

Nato did not immediately respond to requests to confirm the two incidents.