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Militants launch Afghan attacks | Militants launch Afghan attacks |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Taliban militants have attacked official buildings in eastern Afghanistan, firing rockets at a police headquarters and government offices. | |
Five Afghan police were reportedly killed and 26 others hurt as six gunmen fired grenades inside Pul-i-Alam. | |
Part of the city, capital of Logar province, was said to have been evacuated as military helicopters flew overhead and fired on the insurgents. | |
The attack comes 10 days before nationwide elections in Afghanistan. | The attack comes 10 days before nationwide elections in Afghanistan. |
The Taliban have vowed to disrupt the elections and have stepped up attacks in recent weeks. | |
US and UK forces are currently engaged in a major offensive against Taliban militants in the south of the country. | |
High casualty levels among the international coalition and reports of escalating violence have raised concerns in Washington and London. | |
The US commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, described the Taliban as "a very aggressive enemy" in a newspaper interview published on Monday. | |
Explosive vests | |
Eyewitnesses in Pul-i-Alam said insurgents took up positions in an unfinished tower block and fired rockets into government compounds in the city, which is close to the capital, Kabul. | |
Two rockets were reported to have hit the headquarters of the city's chief of police, while four hit the governor's compound. | Two rockets were reported to have hit the headquarters of the city's chief of police, while four hit the governor's compound. |
"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. |
"The rockets hit the building and partially damaged the building. The governor was having lunch and no-one was killed or wounded," he added. | |
Mr Darwish said attackers inside the buildings had been surrounded by the security forces. There were also reports of coalition helicopters involved in the fight. | |
A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack in Logar. He said that six fighters entered the buildings wearing explosive vests. | |
Taliban strategy | Taliban strategy |
The attack in Logar was the latest in a series of similar co-ordinated attacks on provincial cities in recent months. | |
We've got to stop their momentum, stop their initiative. It's hard work Gen Stanley McChrystalUS commander in Afghanistan US looks for progress | |
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. |
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Gen McChrystal - who is to present a major strategic review of the conflict to the US Congress this month - admitted US and international forces were facing a tough period in Afghanistan. | |
"We've got to stop their momentum, stop their initiative. It's hard work," he said. | |
On Sunday US National Security Adviser James Jones defended the US approach in Afghanistan, telling TV interviewers the developing strategy in the country was new and a system to judge progress was still being put in place. |