Protests, dispute over deaths

Hundreds of angry Afghans chanted anti-U.S. slogans as they protested the deaths of nine policemen who officials said were killed during an anti-Taliban operation by U.S.-led coalition troops.

The officers, including a district police chief, died in Ghazni province during an operation that included U.S. ground forces and airstrikes, said a provincial official, Habibur Rahman. Two civilians also died, he said.

The U.S.-led coalition denied that it had killed the policemen. It said its forces killed “several insurgents” and detained nine others during the operation.

Near the southern city of Kandahar, a Canadian soldier was killed and two were injured when a military convoy struck a mine, the Canadian government said.