Afghan security forces killed a Taliban commander they alleged yesterday to be behind the July kidnappings of 23 South Korean church workers. The Taliban denied the claim.

The Taliban commander, named as Mullah Mateen, was among 22 militants killed in fighting late Monday and early yesterday in Ghazni province, where the South Koreans were abducted, said Ghazni Deputy Governor Kazim Allayar and a senior police officer.

Allayar said Mateen played a key role in the kidnapping, including telephone negotiations with the government in the early days of the kidnappings. He said another Taliban leader wanted over the kidnappings, Mullah Abdullah Jan, remained at large.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said seven insurgents were killed in the clash, all of them ordinary fighters. He said the Taliban did not have a commander called Mullah Mateen