KABUL, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces killed 20 armed militants in Taliban former stronghold Kandahar province over the past 24 hours, spokesman for Defense Ministry General Dawlat Waziri said Thursday.

Addressing a press conference here, the official said that the security forces in crackdown against armed militants "have killed 20 terrorists including three suicide bombers" in Miwand district of Kandahar province over the past 24 hours.

The cleanup operations, according to the official, are still going on in 11 provinces out of the country's 34 provinces to eliminate the armed militants and ensure lasting peace there.