Twenty-five suspected Taliban militants were killed Saturday in the air raid launched by the US forces in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan, a provincial official confirmed.

"Twenty five Taliban fighters were killed in Charchino districtafter the US warplanes bombarded their positions," Jan Mohammad told Xinhua via telephone.

He declined to provide more details.

Uruzgan, the hometown of Taliban's leader Mullah Omar, has beenregarded as the stronghold of Taliban's loyalists.

In the meantime, Taliban's spokesman Mullah Abdul Latif Hakimi rejected Jan Mohammad's claim, saying all the victims were civilians.

The incident coincided with the landmark presidential elections,which Taliban remnants have vowed to derail.

Source: Xinhua