1st LD Writethru: Taliban storms Afghanistan's Kunduz city, clashes continue

Taliban militants attacked Kunduz city, the capital of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province early Monday, in an effort to seize the city's control, authorities said.

"The attacks occurred at dawn as dozens of Taliban militants attacked from the west, north and east of the city, 250 km north of Afghan capital of Kabul, sparking heavy clashes. The security forces were fighting to drive the militants out of the town," a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The attackers took control of several areas in the outer sides of the city.

A Xinhua reporter at the city said that the streets were largely deserted while security forces were trying to foil the attack. The militants also fired several rockets towards the center of the city.

"Several Taliban militants were killed and wounded during the battle, but their number could not be exactly specified as the fighting is still going on," the source added.

The militants also launched attacks on neighboring Chardara and Archi districts.

The province, bordering Tajikistan, was the scene of heavy fighting earlier this year as security forces repelled militants who tried to take control of several districts near Kunduz city.

The Taliban has intensified attacks over the past couple of months since the Afghan security forces assumed the full security responsibility from NATO-led troops on Jan. 1. Endi