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Makeshift Taliban prison found in southern Afghanistan

By the CNN Wire Staff
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • 27 Afghan men appear to be tortured
  • 13 insurgents were killed in fighting
  • The compound's location is Helmand province

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Security forces in southern Afghanistan found 27 shackled Afghan men in a makeshift Taliban prison compound, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said on Wednesday.

The force said the men appeared to be tortured and were taken to a base for a medical screening and debriefing. Officials were trying to determine the men's identities, the force said.

Tips and intelligence led to the discovery of the compound on Tuesday near Musa Qaleh in Helmand province.

When troops approached the compound, insurgents fired on them, the force said.

In the ensuing gun battle, 13 insurgents were killed when they did not comply with orders to lay down their weapons, the force said.

The force also reported other incidents that occurred Tuesday:

-- A grenade wounded four International Security Assistance Force service members in eastern Afghanistan when a grenade was thrown from a mosque

-- An Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban insurgent and detained several suspected insurgents in Helmand province while in pursuit of a Taliban commander.

-- A Taliban commander was killed in a precision air strike in Kandahar province.

-- Troops killed 10 Taliban insurgents in Kandahar province in pursuit of a Taliban commander.