NATO troops killed 80 militants in eastern Afghanistan

Eighty people were killed in clashes with NATO and Afghan forces in Paktika province, a spokesman for the province's governor said Saturday.

All the people killed were insurgents, according to Farid Mukhlis, the governor's spokesman.

Authorities said no NATO or Afghan troops, or civilians were killed in the clashes, which began at midnight Friday and continued into Saturday morning, CNN reports.

NATO says militants surrounded the outpost, firing from all directions with rocket-propelled grenades, small arms and mortars.

Coalition officials said the embattled troops on the ground called in air support to help repel the attack.

At least five coalition service members were wounded during the firefight, but NATO says none were killed, Voice of America informs.