US-Led Afghan Forces Kill Taleban Commander

U.S. and Afghan forces have killed a Taleban commander and three of his fighters in southern Afghanistan.A U.S. military spokesman says Payenda Mohammed, who was thought to have led about 150 rebels, was killed in a battle in Kandahar province Wednesday. He was believed responsible for numerous rocket attacks, ambushes and other guerrilla-style assaults. At least three other militants were killed and 15 wounded as U.S. warplanes and helicopters rocketed caves along a ridge where they were hiding. Afghan and U.S. forces have stepped up attacks in recent months to flush out militants and boost security to prevent the Taleban from carrying out threats of subverting next month's parliamentary polls.