KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb.

At least 33 people, including eight civilians, died in a coalition airstrike in southern Afghanistan, military officials said Monday.

World News IN BRIEF *KABUL A Taliban attack on a remote American base killed nine soldiers in Afghanistan yesterday. It was one of the deadliest attacks on US troops since the 2001 invasion.

Heavy bloodshed was reported in Afghanistan Sunday, with NATO forces claiming to have killed many Taliban insurgents and two NATO troops killed.

Leaders of France, Australia and Italy traveled to Afghanistan over the weekend to meet with President Hamid Karzai and visit troops stationed in the conflict-ridden country.