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Afghan Taliban kill dozens at Kandahar airport Afghan Taliban kill dozens at Kandahar airport
(about 4 hours later)
Dozens of people have been killed in a Taliban attack on a heavily fortified civilian and military airfield in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.Dozens of people have been killed in a Taliban attack on a heavily fortified civilian and military airfield in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.
The defence ministry said that at least 37 people, including many children, had been killed in the clashes. At least nine militants were also killed. At least 37 people, including many children, were killed in the clashes, along with at least nine militants, the defence ministry said.
A number of hostages were seized in the 26-hour attack before Afghan forces retook the airport. A number of hostages were seized in the 26-hour attack but the Afghan army says it has now regained control.
Final "mopping up operations" were now under way, military officials said. This is the latest in a series of ambitious raids by Taliban fighters.
The Taliban said a number of suicide fighters managed to enter the base with weapons. They said "martyrdom seekers" had launched "thunderous attacks on foreign and hireling personnel". The Taliban briefly seized the northern city of Kunduz in September.
The defence ministry statement said that a total of 11 insurgents took part in the attack. As well as nine killed, another was injured. Reports said a final gunman held out on his own for several hours before being killed late on Wednesday evening. The group described its fighters as "martyrdom seekers" who had launched "thunderous attacks on foreign and hireling personnel".
Kandahar security officials put the number of attackers at 12, all of whom had been killed. Hostages
At least 35 people were injured in the attack, the defence ministry said. The attack continued until one gunman who had out on his own for several hours was killed late on Wednesday.
The raid was the latest in a series of battlefield victories by the Taliban who briefly seized the northern city of Kunduz in September. At least 35 people and one Taliban fighter were also injured in the attack, the defence ministry said.
The airport compound houses Afghan military and civilian sections as well as a Nato base.The airport compound houses Afghan military and civilian sections as well as a Nato base.
Officials said the attackers initially managed to breach the first gate of the complex. Tolo News TV said the insurgents were dressed in military uniform and were equipped with light and heavy weaponry.
Tolo News TV said the insurgents were dressed in military uniform and were equipped with light and heavy weaponry. It has reported that 14 insurgents were killed. They breached the first gate and then entered an old school building, trading fire with security forces.
A doctor at a military hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that a number of bodies had been received, including those of four soldiers. The hostages were believed to include women and small children. Witnesses reported that some of the militants took families hostage and used them as human shields. They said they could hear Afghan soldiers calling on the fighters to let the women and children go.
Kandahar airport director Ahmadullah Faizi told AFP news agency that some passengers waiting to board a commercial flight to India had been trapped inside the airport's civilian terminal, at some distance from the fighting, during the attack.
US Army Col Michael Lawhorn said the Taliban fighters "never physically entered the airfield". There were no coalition casualties.
Correspondents say the attack is a huge security failure because the attackers were able to smuggle weapons into an area supposed to have been made secure by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).Correspondents say the attack is a huge security failure because the attackers were able to smuggle weapons into an area supposed to have been made secure by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
Kandahar army commander Sher Shah told reporters that radio intercepts had found that some militants were speaking in Urdu - a language more common in neighbouring Pakistan. Afghan officials frequently blame Pakistan for unrest. Kandahar army commander Sher Shah told reporters that radio intercepts had found that some militants were speaking in Urdu - a language more common in neighbouring Pakistan. Afghan officials frequently blame Pakistan for the unrest.
The statement by the Taliban claimed that they had killed up to 80 soldiers. This figure could not be verified.The statement by the Taliban claimed that they had killed up to 80 soldiers. This figure could not be verified.
Kandahar airport director Ahmadullah Faizi told AFP news agency that some passengers waiting to board a commercial flight to India had been trapped inside the airport's civilian terminal, at some distance from the fighting, during the attack. Separately, the Taliban claimed to have captured Khanashin district in southern Helmand province. A local official confirmed the district had fallen.
Separately, the Taliban claimed to have captured Khanashin district in southern Helmand province.
A local official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the district had fallen.
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most Nato and US forces last year.Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most Nato and US forces last year.
The latest violence came as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called for help to defeat terrorism, at a regional conference in Pakistan.The latest violence came as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called for help to defeat terrorism, at a regional conference in Pakistan.
Mr Ghani condemned the Kandahar attack as cowardly and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, speaking at the conference, called on Pakistan to help restart stalled peace talks with the Taliban.Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, speaking at the conference, called on Pakistan to help restart stalled peace talks with the Taliban.