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AL-KHOR, QATAR: Taliban representatives met with Afghan political figures for a second day on Sunday, but it was unclear if the dialogue hosted by Qatar moved any closer to long-awaited formal negotiations to end Afghanistan's devastating war.

KABUL: Five foreign servicemen died in southern Afghanistan, the Nato-led coalition forces said on Tuesday, but they gave no reason for their deaths days before a run-off vote in a presidential election. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service said it was investigating the deaths. A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, said insurgents had been attacking the foreign forces in southern Zabul province. – Reuters