The Afghan National Police killed 30 suspected militants including a well- known insurgent member Mullah Mohammad Yaqub in an operation in former Taliban stronghold Uruzgan province of southern Afghanistan on Monday, a press release of Interior Ministry issued?Tuesday said.

"Mullah Mohammad Yaqub along with 29 other militants was killed and over 17 others sustained injures in an operation which was launched in Deh Rawod district yesterday," the press release added.

It also said that the dead body of Mullah Yaqub was found by police.

"Assault rifles including two rockets propel, six AK- 47and two pistols have been found in the area," it said.

Taliban militants who staged a violent comeback four years ago have vowed to speed up activities mostly in the shape of suicide attacks and roadside bombing this year in Afghanistan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2009)