KANDAHAR, October 15 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - As the German cabinet decided Wednesday, October 15, to send troops to northern Afghanistan, the first deployment of international peacekeepers outside the capital Kabul, reports said eight people were killed in clashes between pro-government and Taliban suspects two days earlier.

Four Taliban suspects were killed and three detained in a day-long clash with government forces on Monday, the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency quoted local Uruzgan official Jalaluddin as saying.

Jalaluddin said two Afghan troops were killed and four injured after fighting broke out when Taliban fighters attacked pro-government forces in Uruzgan, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Uruzgan was part of the main heartland of the Taliban regime overthrown by U.S.-led forces in late 2001.

Kandahar military commander Khan Mohammad said that skirmishes were continuing in the volatile province after two local commanders last week switched allegiances and decided to fight alongside the Taliban against pro-government forces.

The commander said Taliban militants had "strong popular support" in the area, which was formerly home to high-ranking such as military commander Mullah Dadullah.

Mohammad could not confirm a report that any Taliban members were killed or arrested during the fighting.

In the meanwhile, U.S.-led aircraft launched an assault on militants in Deh Rawood, 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Tirin Kot after pro-government forces came under attack, U.S. military spokesman Colonel Rodney Davis said.

U.S. Special Operations Forces and aircraft were called in after militants attacked Afghan militiamen near the U.S.-led military base in Deh Rawood, Davis told reporters in Kabul.

Davis said the aircraft "expended ordnance on the enemy," but did not give any further details of the clash in Deh Rawood, 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of the capital Kabul.

He said there were no U.S.-led military casualties but did not say whether there were any Afghan or militant casualties.

It was not immediately clear if the incidents in the same area of Uruzgan were connected.

The colonel did not say who the attackers were but similar incidents have been blamed on Taliban remnants and al-Qaeda members.

Uruzgan is the birthplace of fugitive Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar, who has so far eluded a massive manhunt and multi-million dollar price on his head.

His followers are believed to have a strong presence in southern Uruzgan and neighboring northern districts of Kandahar.

Some 300 people have been killed in the past two months in attacks blamed on resurgent Taliban fighters.

Also Wednesday, the German cabinet decided to deploy troops to northern Afghanistan, in the first time international peacekeepers would be stationed outside the capital Kabul.

The decision, which must still be ratified by parliament, possibly as early as next week, would see up to 450 soldiers deployed to the Kunduz region.

There, they will provide security for civilian reconstruction teams, ensure stability in the build-up to next year's elections and oversee disarmament of former combatants.

An advance contingent could be in place later this month.

On Monday, the U.N. Security Council authorized the international security force in Afghanistan (ISAF) to deploy into the provinces.

The authorization came following repeated calls from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.N. officials and relief agencies for the mandate to be extended into the regions, riven by rampant factional fighting and guerrilla attacks.

Going further than before, a German government spokesman said the troops would not necessarily be confined to Kunduz.

At a regular press conference, he agreed the soldiers could act as "mobile support" for the elections, which he said would be "decisive for Afghanistan's political development".

A defense ministry spokesman concurred. "There will be no requirement, but they could provide security if that is what the United Nations and the Afghan government wants".

Asked if that meant beyond Kabul and Kunduz, he replied: "That's the way it looks".