2nd LD: Clash resumes near airport in southern Afghan city of Kandahar

Clash resumed between security forces and Taliban militants near an airport in Kandahar city, capital of southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Wednesday morning, sources said.

"About 14 Taliban fighters armed with suicide jackets, rocket launchers and guns took control of two buildings near the civilian part of the Kandahar International Airport late Tuesday. The sporadic clashes have been going on throughout the night causing 10 militants killed," a security source told Xinhua anonymously.

Gunfiring started again between remaining militants and units of special operation force at wee hours of Wednesday, he said.

"A cleanup operation is going on at the area. The security forces are moving carefully in the populated neighborhood to avoid civilian casualties," the source said.

The attackers, who were disguised in army uniform, fired several rocket propelled grenades towards the airport vicinity. The airport's operations were suspended since the attack started for precautionary measures.

"We still cannot provide details on causalities. There is fear of possible causalities, both civilian and military personnel," a provincial government spokesman, Samim Khpalwak, told Xinhua, adding that details will be revealed to public later on Wednesday.

Unofficial sources said that the insurgents also attacked the nearby apartment buildings and houses, where families' of military and high-ranking officials lives.

They said 10 suicide bombers and three army soldiers had so far been killed while more than 20 people sustained injuries by the clashes.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since April when the militants group launched its so-called annual rebel offensive in different places which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported Taliban spokesman, told local media that the attack was part of Taliban's offensive codenamed Hamalyat-e-Azm or Resolute Operation.

On Monday night, two militants were killed and five security personnel wounded after Taliban attacked a police station in Kandahar city. Enditem