US-led coalition troops killed more than 130 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan over the past several days, the coalition said yesterday, but thousands of Afghans staged a protest saying the victims were civilians.

Backed by air support, the Taliban were killed in two separate battles in the western province of Herat, the US military said in a statement.

The deaths triggered an angry protest ? the second in the country in two days ? over what local villagers say was the killing of civilians.

Herat, bordering Iran, had been relatively safe until recently compared with the south and east, where the Taliban are most active.

Both battles were in the Zerkoh valley, south of Shindand district, where Western troops have a large base, and running into Farah province further south.

Violence has surged in recent weeks after the traditional winter lull and this is regarded as the crunch year for all sides. Almost 4,000 people died last year. Hundreds, including about 30 foreign troops, have been killed already this year.