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Taliban fighters take hostages in Kandahar airport attack Afghan Taliban attack on Kandahar 'leaves 46 dead'
(35 minutes later)
At least 19 people have been killed and several hostages held as heavy fighting continues at the airport in the Afghan city of Kandahar, officials say. At least 46 security personnel, Taliban fighters and civilians have been killed in clashes in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, officials say.
The Taliban said it carried out the attack at the heavily fortified airport on Tuesday evening. They are holding hostages in homes and at a school. Several people were also taken hostage in the Taliban assault on Kandahar airport, which began on Tuesday.
Officials said the attackers had managed to breach the first gate of the complex in the southern city.
The airport compound houses the joint Nato and Afghan military headquarters.The airport compound houses the joint Nato and Afghan military headquarters.
Gunfire can still be heard around the airport complex on Wednesday, officials say. All flights have been cancelled. Officials said the attackers had managed to breach the first gate of the complex. Gunfire can still be heard, and all flights have been cancelled.
Who are the Taliban? The Taliban said it carried out the attack at the heavily fortified site.
The Afghan defence ministry said 37 civilians and members of the security forces had been killed, along with nine Taliban. A further 35 people were injured, it said.
A doctor at a military hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC 41 bodies had been received, including four soldiers. The hostages are believed to include women and small children.
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).
"Several insurgents" had carried out the attack, the provincial governor's spokesman Samim Khopalwaq told AFP. The Taliban said "martyrdom seekers" entered the airbase undetected to begin a "thunderous attacks on foreign and hireling personnel".
The Taliban have said the attack had been carried out by "martyrdom seekers" who entered the airbase undetected at dusk on Tuesday to begin a "thunderous attacks on foreign and hireling personnel". 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 made clear that some militants were speaking in Urdu - a language more commonly spoken in neighbouring Pakistan. A statement by the Taliban claimed that they had killed up to 80 soldiers. This figure could not be verified.
Civilians in the area are reported to have told reporters that the Taliban have refused to let them leave, despite ANA pleas for them to be allowed to go. Family members of at least two army personnel are reported to have been taken hostage by Taliban fighters. 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.
Officials said the attackers had met heavy resistance from troops inside, with local authorities reportedly deploying commandos to the area. The incident comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visits Pakistan for a regional conference attended by Pakistan, India and the US, where they are expected to discuss peace talks with the Taliban.
An unconfirmed statement by the Taliban claimed that they had killed up to 80 soldiers, though this figure could not verified.
Raziq Shirzai, the Afghan air force commander in the southern region, told the BBC that there were some civilians among the dead and wounded. At least 20 people have been injured.
It was unclear early on Wednesday if any militants had been killed.
Kandahar airport director Ahmadullah Faizi told AFP 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.
The incident comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visits Pakistan for a regional conference attended by Pakistan, India and the US where they are expected to discuss peace talks with the Taliban.
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.
In recent months the Taliban has seen a series of battlefield victories, including briefly capturing the northern Afghan city of Kunduz. In recent months the Taliban has seen a series of battlefield victories, including briefly capturing the northern city of Kunduz.