Kabul - Taliban militants stormed two district capitals in eastern Afghanistan but were turned back by Afghan and US-led coalition forces, the US military said Wednesday.

Twenty-two militants were killed in the operations Tuesday night in Paktika province after they attacked Afghan National Police forces in the Sarobi and Gomal districts, it said.

The police returned fire and called in coalition air support and

the attacks were repelled, the US military said in a statement.

In neighbouring Paktia province, militants also attacked the Waze Zadran district capital but were repelled by police, it said.

In the southern province of Helmand, coalition forces killed several militants and detained 12 during a search of compounds in the Req district that targeted a militant leader financing attacks, organizing foreign fighters and smuggling narcotics, the coalition said.

Coalition soldiers opened fire when several armed militants were seen moving against the US-led forces, it said. (dpa)