Afghan security forces have killed two heavily armed Taliban militants after a long battle outside a building in the eastern provincial capital, Gardez. The fighting also wounded three civilians and a police officer. In Kabul, the Afghan parliament began considering President Hamid Karzai's proposed cabinet members. On Sunday, Mr. Karzai told lawmakers that the nominees are professionals instead of political allies. His opponents criticized him for including only one woman and no opposition members in the twenty-three-member cabinet.