Hundreds freed by militants

KUNDUZ CITY, Afghanistan: Taliban fighters battled their way into the centre of Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan yesterday and freed hundreds of fellow militants from jail in one of the most serious security breaches in 14 years of war, witnesses and officials said.

The assault was the second time this year that the hardline Islamist movement has besieged Kunduz city, defended by Afghan forces bat- tling largely without Nato’s support after it withdrew most of its troops last year.

The insurgents launched a three-sided surprise offensive at about dawn, and by midafternoon they had hoisted their white flag over Kunduz’s main square, about 200m from the governor’s compound, a Reuters witness said.

The witness also said battles were raging in two districts nearby.

According to two security officials, Taliban gunmen, some armed with rocket-propelled grenades, overwhelmed security guards and broke into the main city prison, freeing hundreds of fighters.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan evacuated its Kunduz compound yesterday morning, soon after the assault began.

“They’ve been relocated within Afghanistan,” said UN spokesperson Dominic Medley, declining to say where or how many staff were evacuated.

Abdullah Danishy, deputy governor of Kunduz, confirmed that the insurgents were closing in.

“There is fierce fighting ongoing at Spin Ghar park, which is about half a kilome- tre away from the governor’s compound,” Danishy said after fleeing his office.

However, he insisted the provincial centre would not fall. “We have reinforcements coming from other areas and will beat back the Taliban.”

The Kunduz assault marks a troubling development in the insurgency, although Afghan forces have managed to drive the Taliban back from most of the territory they have gained this year.

“It is certainly the first major breach of a provincial capital since 2001,” said Graeme Smith, senior analyst for the International Crisis Group. “They are choking the Afghan forces from all sides. It looks pretty grim.”

One Reuters witness saw buildings on fire in the south of the city, and saw Taliban fighters entering a 200-bed government-run hospital.

Dozens of panicked residents fled to the city’s main airport but were turned away by security forces.

Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, a spokesperson for Kunduz police, said 20 Taliban fighters had been killed and three Afghan police wounded in the clashes.