Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Taliban Assaults District Center in Afghanistan's Helmand Province

by Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN --

   Heavy clashes have erupted in southern Afghanistan, after Taliban
   rebels staged a coordinated assault on a district center.

   Afghan officials and insurgents have made conflicting claims about
   Monday's fighting in the Sangin district of Helmand, the largest of the
   34 Afghan provinces.

   Provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak told VOA insurgents assaulted
   multiple security outposts, but Afghan forces repulsed the Taliban. He
   claimed many assailants were killed and wounded, but would not say
   whether government forces also suffered casualties.

   A Taliban spokesman claimed insurgents overran more than 25 outposts
   and bases around Sangin, saying intense fighting continued in the area.

   He said a Taliban suicide bomber struck a military compound before
   insurgents stormed the area and killed or wounded more than 100 Afghan
   forces. The insurgent group often issues inflated casualty tolls for
   government forces.

   The Taliban dug a tunnel near a military compound taking advantage of
   surrounding civilian houses and packed it with explosives before
   detonating it to begin the assault, Afghan regional corps commander,
   General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai told VOA.

   Most of Helmand is under the control of the Taliban. The government
   fully controls only the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, and a few
   surrounding district centers.

   The United States has announced it would deploy a new group of around
   300 troops to Helmand later this year to help Afghan forces defend the
   city and beat back the Taliban during the spring fighting season.