1st LD: Fresh clashes erupt in Afghanistan's Kunduz city

Fierce clashes erupted between security forces and Taliban insurgents Friday night on the southern outskirts of Kunduz city, capital of Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz, police said.

"The fighting broke out in Bandar-e-Kabul and Saa Dara localities where the security forces were conducting patrol during a search operation," provincial police spokesman, Sayyed Sarwar Houssaini, told Xinhua.

Militants fired rounds of rockets from outer sides of the city, which struck several houses. One rocket hit a petrol station, triggering a huge fire in the area.

"The gunfight and rocket barrage have caused casualties. I cannot provide a precise number of deaths and injuries as the battle is still underway," he said.

Hundreds of people, including some 200 civilians, have been killed and thousands others fled their houses since late September when Taliban militants stormed into Kunduz.

The government forces launched a counter-offensive to recapture the city earlier this month and major parts of the provincial capital have been recaptured from the Taliban militants.

According to locals, the Taliban insurgents have massively abused human rights, ranging from killing civilians, executing security forces to looting banks and shops. Endi