Posted on 05/07/2011 6:07:31 AM PDT by Cardhu
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Taliban gunmen unleashed a major assault Saturday on government buildings throughout Afghanistan's largest southern city - a former Taliban stronghold where international and Afghan forces are trying to establish security and a functioning government.
It was the latest in a series of strikes by the Taliban insurgency at high-profile government installations.
Shooting started shortly after midday and the gunfire was still ringing through Kandahar city hours later. Government and hospital officials confirmed that the governor's compound, the mayor's office and the intelligence agency offices had all been attacked, along with a number of police stations.
The Taliban said a large number of their militants flooded into Kandahar city with the aim of targeting any building used by the government.
"Our attack was against every place where government officials or security forces are found," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Associated Press over the telephone.
As the fighting raged, government spokesman Zalmai Ayubi said over the phone from inside a safe room in the governor's compound that the "Taliban attacked a number of different locations" but he could only confirm the governor's compound, the mayor's office and a police station were under assault.
At least 24 wounded had been brought to the main city hospital by afternoon - 14 civilians and 10 police, according to an emergency room doctor who only gave one name, Irsan. He said the wounded were coming in from the areas around the governor's compound and the intelligence office, along with other neighborhoods of the city.
There were no immediate reports of deaths from the government, though the Taliban said that their militants had managed to enter at least the governor's compound and claimed that there were deaths.
"A lot of people have been killed," Ahmadi said.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Time to take out Omar.
My nephew is in Kandahar. He is an infantryman in a Stryker Brigade out of Fort Wainwright in Alaska. Just got there. Pretty green. Worried.
Prayers for a hedge of protection surrounding all US service people.
I hope he will be OK - They seem to be attacking only Afghan government installations so far.
Prayers for his safe return home soon!
OBOZOBAMA is completly failing in Afghanistan and in the M.East !
This must be highlighted while the Fraud in chief tries to make the mediatic buzz with BenLaden’s fast and easy killing
Keep your powder dry, the fight is going on and Obama is a surrenderer in chief, the trojan horse of islam...Enjoy
Prayers going up for all serving in harm’s way..May God give comfort and strength to the families of our brave warriors.
Time to take out Obama !
With such a Loser in chief you are owned. BenLaden’s killing is a fake “victory” and a fake “justice”...
It’s not only BenLaden but thousand of islamists who killed 3000 innocent people in the WTC...
If you really care for your military you should rather take out Obama....or you , and yours, will be owned and die in vain
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