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Fierce gun battle in Afghan city Fierce gun battle in Afghan city
(about 3 hours later)
A gun battle has broken out between Afghan security forces and militants in the southern city of Lashkar Gah, officials say. A gun battle has broken out between Afghan security forces and militants in the southern city of Lashkar Gah, Nato officials say.
Rocket fire and explosions could be heard from an area close to the army barracks. Some reports say militants entered buildings in the vicinity. They say that the fighting began when insurgents tried to launch "a co-ordinated attack" on the Afhgan National Army (ANA).
A statement said that while firing is continuing, the attack has been contained by the ANA and Nato forces.
The main group of attackers are now surrounded, the statement said.
"At 0946 local time on Friday insurgents attempted an attack on the Afghan National Army's Sharwali Barracks, located on the western edge of Lashkar Gah," a British military spokesman told the BBC.
"The attack was primarily small arms fire and mainly from an unoccupied four-storey building to the south of the barracks."
The statement also added that no casualties had been reported.
Extra troops have been deployed and attack helicopters are over the city and firing on insurgents, Nato said.Extra troops have been deployed and attack helicopters are over the city and firing on insurgents, Nato said.
Volatile province
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told the Associated Press news agency that seven men armed with suicide vests and machine guns attacked the UN office and a guesthouse used by government officials in Lashkar Gah, capital of volatile Helmand province.
The Taliban insurgency is at its fiercest in south and east Afghanistan.The Taliban insurgency is at its fiercest in south and east Afghanistan.
Lashkar Gah is the capital of Helmand province where militants frequently launch attacks on security forces. Militants frequently launch attacks on security forces in southern Afghanistan.
UK and other Nato troops are set to launch the biggest operation yet in Helmand, the BBC learned on MondayUK and other Nato troops are set to launch the biggest operation yet in Helmand, the BBC learned on Monday