Warplanes struck a Taliban compound in southern Afghanistan with "precision munitions" early on Wednesday, killing an area commander and about 10 of his men, the Nato force said.

Villagers said the raid in the southern province of Helmand, near a town captured by Taliban two weeks ago, also killed civilians, but this was rejected by the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007