NATO kills 50 fighters at suspected insurgent camp

NATO and Afghan special forces killed more than 50 suspected insurgents in eastern Afghanistan during an operation to to clear a training camp the Haqqani network reportedly used for foreign fighters, NATO said Friday.

The insurgents were killed in their encampment in Sar Rowzah district of the south-eastern province of Paktika overnight, an ISAF statement said.

Coalition forces said that they acted after being tipped off about the encampment. The Haqqani network is considered one of the most dangerous militant groups in eastern Afghanistan and allied to Al Qaeda.

It was responsible for several high-profile raids, including the deadly attack on Kabul's Intercontinental hotel that killed nine on June 28, Reuters reported.

"The encampment site was a staging area for Haqqani and foreign fighters. These fighters were moved into the country by Haqqani insurgents who planned to use them for attacks throughout Afghanistan," ISAF said.

Coalition forces recovered a stockpile of weapons including mortars, rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, AK-47 rifles, grenandes and military gear, ISAF said.

Also Friday five Afghan civilians were killed in northern Faryab province when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb, said Sayed Masood Yaqubi, spokesman for the provincial police chief, Reuters reported.