(SKY news) More than 160 Taliban fighters have reportedly been killed in two battles with coalition forces in southern Afghanistan.
A British soldier in HelmandThe first battle started when a joint coalition-Afghan patrol was attacked near the Taliban-controlled town of Musa Qala .
Coalition troops returned fire and called in fighter aircraft. One coalition soldier was killed and four wounded in the battle.
Taliban militants overran Musa Qala in February, four months after British troops handed over the town to Afghan elders.
Situated in northern Helmand province, Musa Qala and the region around it have seen the heaviest fighting in Afghanistan this year.
It also is in the middle of the country's poppy-growing belt.
In neighbouring Uruzgan province, more than 80 Taliban fighters attacked a joint patrol near the village of Kakrak .
The ground force commander requested coalition artillery and air support, which bombarded the insurgents, killing more than 65.
Three civilians were wounded in the crossfire. No Afghan or coalition forces were apparently hurt.
The clashes come as Afghan president Karzai prepared for talks with George Bush at the United Nations in New York.
Mr Bush is seeking assurances that Mr Karzai is tackling Afghanistan's growing drug trade and security problems.