Kandahar, May 08: Intense fighting continues in the troubled southern Afghan city of Kandahar between militants and security forces, a day after the Taliban unleashed a major assault on government buildings there.
According to local medics, the death toll from two days of fighting has climbed to 15 as nearly 55 others have been reported wounded, a Press TV correspondent reports.
The victims include security forces, militants and civilians.
Most of the fighting is taking place near the Afghan intelligence agency in the city.
Taliban militants are also occupying a traffic police building, firing shots and rockets from the site.
Shops have been closed and the streets have emptied following the clashes.
On Saturday, the Taliban attacked several locations in Kandahar, including the governor’s compound, the mayor’s office, three police stations and two high schools.
They militants claim their aim is to take control of the city.
Security has deteriorated after hundreds of Taliban prisoners escaped from a Kandahar prison last month.
Kandahar is known as the birthplace of the Taliban with the city and its surrounding areas frequently experiencing serious violence.
The violence comes a week after Taliban militants warned of a fresh wave of attacks against foreign troops, Afghan security forces and government officials.
The surge in violence comes despite the presence of nearly 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan.
—-Agencies