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Militants launch Afghan attacks | Militants launch Afghan attacks |
(30 minutes later) | |
Taliban militants in east Afghanistan have taken over a government building and are firing into the headquarters of the chief of police, officials say. | |
Locals in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar province, say the area has been evacuated amid reports of gun battles and Apache helicopters overhead. | |
At least five people are reported to have been killed as insurgents fired rockets in the city. | |
The attack comes 10 days before nationwide elections in Afghanistan. | The attack comes 10 days before nationwide elections in Afghanistan. |
According to eyewitnesses insurgents took up positions in an unfinished tower block and fired rockets into government compounds in the city, which is close to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. | |
"The governor's building came under rocket attack from close range," local government spokesman Din Mohammad Darwish told AFP news agency. | "The governor's building came under rocket attack from close range," local government spokesman Din Mohammad Darwish told AFP news agency. |
Mr Darwish said attackers inside the buildings had been surrounded by the security forces. | Mr Darwish said attackers inside the buildings had been surrounded by the security forces. |
A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, has claimed responsibility for the attack. He said that six fighters entered the buildings laden with explosives. | A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, has claimed responsibility for the attack. He said that six fighters entered the buildings laden with explosives. |
There are also reports that international forces' helicopters are flying overhead. | There are also reports that international forces' helicopters are flying overhead. |
Nato-led forces operate in virtually all Afghan provinces, training Afghan troops and battling insurgents. | Nato-led forces operate in virtually all Afghan provinces, training Afghan troops and battling insurgents. |
Taliban strategy | Taliban strategy |
Taliban militants have carried out similar co-ordinated attacks on provincial cities in recent months | Taliban militants have carried out similar co-ordinated attacks on provincial cities in recent months |
In July five people were killed in a series of strikes in eastern Afghanistan. This came after simultaneous assaults on government buildings in the city of Khost, also in eastern Afghanistan. | In July five people were killed in a series of strikes in eastern Afghanistan. This came after simultaneous assaults on government buildings in the city of Khost, also in eastern Afghanistan. |
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that such attacks on provincial government compounds are designed to weaken the authority of the Afghan government. | The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that such attacks on provincial government compounds are designed to weaken the authority of the Afghan government. |
The Taliban target provincial headquarters because they are not guarded as closely as institutions in Kabul, our correspondent says. | The Taliban target provincial headquarters because they are not guarded as closely as institutions in Kabul, our correspondent says. |
The significance of this attack is that it took place so close to the Afghan capital just days ahead of presidential elections. | The significance of this attack is that it took place so close to the Afghan capital just days ahead of presidential elections. |
Violence across the country has escalated in the run-up to presidential and provincial council polls on 20 August. | Violence across the country has escalated in the run-up to presidential and provincial council polls on 20 August. |
US and UK forces are currently engaged in a major offensive against Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan. | US and UK forces are currently engaged in a major offensive against Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan. |