Roundup: Taliban militants overrun district in S. Afghanistan

Taliban militants on Wednesday overran strategically important Musa Kala district in southern Helmand province after days of fierce fighting, local officials said.

"Musa Kala district collapsed today," Mohammad Sharif, governor of the district, told Xinhua. However, he did not give more details.

Another local official who declined to be identified said, " Musa Kala district headquarters was captured by Taliban rebels at 11:00 a.m. local time today."

He also confirmed that local authorities "relocated temporarily to Landi Nawi area."

Taliban militants began attacking the district a couple of weeks ago.

Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar, deputy to Helmand provincial government, without commenting on the collapse, said "both militants and security forces" had suffered casualties.

Elders and notables of Musa Kala district, in a gathering several days ago, had warned the central government to take necessary steps to defend the area.

The fall of Musa Kala district, once a bastion of Taliban militants, will enable the insurgents to expand their grip in other parts of the troubled province and adjoining provinces of Zabul and Kandahar.

Taliban militants, in an online statement on Wednesday, claimed capturing Musa Kala district, saying they had launched a heavy offensive at 10:00 p.m. local time Tuesday and inflicted huge casualties on government security forces.

Officials in Kabul have yet to make comments. Endi