This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35043938

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Afghan Taliban fighters 'attack Kandahar airport' Afghan Taliban fighters attack Kandahar airport
(about 7 hours later)
Fighting has been reported at the airport in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. It is not clear whether the clashes have resulted in casualties. At least nine people have been killed in heavy fighting at the airport in the Afghan city of Kandahar, reports say.
A spokesman for the provincial governor said the attackers had managed to breach the first gate of the complex. The Taliban said it carried out the attack at the heavily fortified airport on Tuesday evening.
A pro-Taliban website said the group had launched an attack "against domestic and foreign forces". A spokesman for the provincial governor said the attackers had managed to breach the first gate of the complex in the southern city, which has long been a Taliban stronghold.
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most US and Nato forces last year. The airport compound houses the joint Nato and Afghan military headquarters.
"Several insurgents" had carried out the attack, the provincial governor's spokesman Samim Khopalwaq told AFP."Several insurgents" had carried out the attack, the provincial governor's spokesman Samim Khopalwaq told AFP.
Local authorities have reportedly deployed commandos to the area. He said the militants had taken up positions inside a school in the complex.
In recent months the Taliban have enjoyed a series of battlefield victories, including briefly capturing the northern Afghan city of Kunduz. Officials said the attackers had met heavy resistance from troops inside, with local authorities reportedly deploying commandos to the area.
Kandahar airport director Ahmadullah Faizi told AFP some passengers had been trapped inside the airport while the fighting was ongoing.
Both soldiers and civilians are believed to be among the dead. It was unclear whether the militants had been killed.
The fighting was reported to be over by late on Tuesday.
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most Nato and US forces last year.
In recent months the Taliban has enjoyed a series of battlefield victories, including briefly capturing the northern Afghan city of Kunduz.