Kabul - Three soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Friday.

Two US soldiers were among those who died in the attacks, which took place in the south of the country on Thursday, ISAF said, without giving details of the third victim.

The ISAF statement said five insurgents were taken prisoner during an operation involving ISAF and Afghan troops in the southern province of Kandahar on Thursday.

One of those detained reportedly had links to the Taliban.

The man was believed to be responsible for financing and placing suicide bombers and explosive devices in the area, the statement said.(dpa)