Kabul, June 13 (IANS) Afghan police supported by NATO-led forces killed 39 Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, a statement of the interior ministry said Sunday.

‘Afghan National Police backed by international troops launched an operation in Chanarto and Behzak areas of Uruzgan province Friday, killing 39 militants,’ Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

Combined forces also recovered 30 rifles, four rocket-propelled grenades and five machine guns during the operation, the statement added.

In a separate operation, the forces arrested two militants in eastern Paktia province Saturday, the report said.

More than 130 people including troopers, militants and civilians have been killed over the past one week.