Five coalition soldiers were injured in an attack by anti-government militants in the southern Zabul province of Afghanistan, a spokesman of coalition forces in Kandahar said Saturday.

"The incident took place in Taziabad area of Zabul province at around 9:00 p.m. on Friday, when the enemies attacked the soldiers with machine-guns, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades," Captain Julie Robert told Xinhua.

One insurgent was killed during the fire exchange, he added, but declining to give more details.

A coalition soldier was also killed on Thursday in Baghran district of the neighboring Helmand province.

Taliban-linked insurgency has claimed more than 1000 lives, including militants, Afghan and U.S. troops as well as pro- government social figures and aid workers, since the beginning of 2006.

Source: Xinhua