Civilians flee as clashes erupt in southern Afghan city

October 21, 2015 23:40

Panicked residents fled the capital of the opium-rich southern Afghan province of Helmand today after the Taliban stormed an outlying neighbourhood, triggering clashes as the insurgents step up offensives around the country.

The Taliban late yesterday seized some police checkpoints in Babaji, a suburb of Lashkar Gah city, but the interior ministry said commando units mounted a swift counter-attack, flushing out the militants from the area.

"The situation is under control. The enemy have been pushed back, 25 of their fighters have been killed," ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told AFP.

Afghan forces were also battling the Taliban in Nad Ali and Greshk districts close to Lashkar Gah, where insurgents captured a number of security posts, provincial governor Mirza Khan Rahimi said.

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