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Taliban Kunduz attack: Fierce clashes over control of Afghan city Afghan Taliban attack: Fierce clashes for control of Kunduz
(34 minutes later)
Fierce fighting is under way between Afghan forces and the Taliban in the northern city of Kunduz, despite government claims that it had regained control of key areas.Fierce fighting is under way between Afghan forces and the Taliban in the northern city of Kunduz, despite government claims that it had regained control of key areas.
Residents told the BBC the militants had pushed back into the heart of the city and that there were intense clashes over the governor's office.Residents told the BBC the militants had pushed back into the heart of the city and that there were intense clashes over the governor's office.
Officials had said they were clearing the city of any remaining fighters.Officials had said they were clearing the city of any remaining fighters.
The Taliban has denied the city has been retaken.The Taliban has denied the city has been retaken.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: "The Taliban flag is still flying."Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: "The Taliban flag is still flying."
The city's capture on Monday by the militant group was a huge blow to President Ashraf Ghani, coming on the first anniversary of his taking power.The city's capture on Monday by the militant group was a huge blow to President Ashraf Ghani, coming on the first anniversary of his taking power.
Kunduz, with a population of around 300,000, is one of Afghanistan's largest cities and strategically important both as a transport hub and a bread-basket for the region.Kunduz, with a population of around 300,000, is one of Afghanistan's largest cities and strategically important both as a transport hub and a bread-basket for the region.
The government assault - backed by Nato special forces and US air support - began overnight with fighters infiltrating the city and launching a series of simultaneous attacks from different positions.The government assault - backed by Nato special forces and US air support - began overnight with fighters infiltrating the city and launching a series of simultaneous attacks from different positions.
Government officials said on Thursday morning that the military had retaken key offices and as many as 200 Taliban fighters had been killed in the operation. Government officials said on Thursday morning that the military had taken back key offices and as many as 200 Taliban fighters had been killed in the operation. Some residents spoke of seeing dead bodies of Taliban fighters everywhere.
Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted that the city had been re-taken, and later said an operation to "clear the city" of the last pockets of resistance was ongoing and could take some days. Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said an operation to "clear the city" of the last pockets of resistance was ongoing and could take some days.
Some residents spoke of seeing dead bodies of Taliban fighters everywhere. Provincial health director Saad Mukhtar told the AFP that the city's hospitals had so far received 49 bodies and 330 wounded people - it is not not known how many of those were civilians.
There were scenes of jubilation at dawn as local residents emerged from their homes after three days of crippling food shortages to thank government troops.There were scenes of jubilation at dawn as local residents emerged from their homes after three days of crippling food shortages to thank government troops.
But the mood changed during the morning as fighting broke out again. A shopkeeper near the Bala Hisar fortress told the BBC that people "are back inside their homes now and are feeling worried about the situation".But the mood changed during the morning as fighting broke out again. A shopkeeper near the Bala Hisar fortress told the BBC that people "are back inside their homes now and are feeling worried about the situation".
Taliban fighters remaining in the city scattered into groups of 10 and 12 and were firing at government troops "from inside people's houses and from the top of high-rise buildings," said Samad Ahmadi, a university lecturer, who is taking shelter on the outskirts of the city. Taliban fighters had scattered into groups of 10 and 12 and were firing at government troops "from inside people's houses and from the top of high-rise buildings," said Samad Ahmadi, a university lecturer, taking shelter on the outskirts of the city.
One man, living close to the centre of Kunduz, said the fighting was "intensifying". The Taliban launched its assault on Kunduz from multiple directions on Monday night, helped by infiltrators who had entered the city during the recent Eid festival. The assault was swift and took Afghan forces by surprise.
"The situation is really critical and getting worse, and I've just heard a huge explosion from a bomb near my house,' Zabihullah told the Associated Press by telephone. Kunduz was the first major urban centre to fall to the Taliban since it was ousted from power after the US-led invasion 14 years ago, and analysts say it is a huge symbolic victory for the group even though it is unlikely to retain control of the city.
Another resident, Hameedullah, said he could hear sporadic firing and "explosions, but I can't tell if they are bombs being dropped from the planes I can hear overhead, or rockets." The city's capture is a setback for a government under pressure to show it can keep the country secure without the backing of international forces.
Taliban fighters attacked Kunduz from multiple directions on Monday night, helped by infiltrators who had entered the city during the recent Eid festival. The assault was swift and took Afghan forces by surprise.
Kunduz was the first major urban centre to fall to the Taliban since it was ousted from power after the US-led invasion 14 years ago. The militants also took several neighbouring districts.
The BBC's Waheed Massoud in Kabul said that although most analysts thought it unlikely the Taliban could hold on to Kunduz, its capture was a huge symbolic victory for the group and a major setback for the Afghan government.
Jawed Ludin, the former deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan, told the BBC's Today programme that Kunduz was known to be at risk from terror attacks and the government should have done "a better job" at protecting the city.Jawed Ludin, the former deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan, told the BBC's Today programme that Kunduz was known to be at risk from terror attacks and the government should have done "a better job" at protecting the city.
Afghanistan's chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah admitted to the BBC's Lyse Doucet in Washington that the government must address its "shortcomings" over Kunduz, but he said it was a sign that Afghanistan still needed the support of the US and the international community. Afghanistan's chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah admitted the government must address its "shortcomings" over Kunduz.
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since Nato ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in December 2014, leaving a residual force used for training and counter-terrorism operations. Most of that force is made up of US troops and there are fears Washington plans to pull most of them out in the coming year. Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since Nato ended its combat mission there in December 2014, leaving a residual force used for training and counter-terrorism operations. Most of that force is made up of US troops and there are fears Washington plans to pull most of them out in the coming year.
Are you in Kunduz? Have you been affected by the recent violence? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you in Kunduz? Have you been affected by the recent violence? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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