Taliban, Afghan forces clash near US jet crash site

GHAZNI: Coalition forces flew sorties over the site of a crashed US military jet in eastern Afghanistan Tuesday, hours after Afghan security forces trying to reach the charred wreckage clashed with Taliban insurgents.

The Bombardier E-11A -- used for military communications -- went down in snowy Taliban-controlled territory on Monday afternoon. The Pentagon has confirmed the aircraft belonged to US forces, but dismissed Taliban claims it had been shot down.

US officials have not said how many people were on board at the time, and it remained unclear Tuesday if and how the militants would allow their remains to be recovered.

Ghazni police chief Khaled Wardak said Afghan security forces had been trying to reach the wreckage late Monday when they were ambushed by the Taliban and pushed back. "The site of the crash, for now, is being covered by the air force. Some say there are two bodies there, but some people there say there are more," Wardak said.

Ghazni police spokesman Ahmad Khan Sirat confirmed the ambush and air presence, adding that at least one person was killed in the fighting between the Taliban and Afghan forces.