Roundup: Taliban attack on Afghan southern district claims 16 lives of attackers: official

Taliban attempts to overrun Gereshk district in the southern Helmand province on Wednesday have left 16 killed and over three dozen others injured including 16 attackers, a local security official said.

"The security forces by killing 16 attackers on the spot have foiled enemies' vicious design to overrun Gereshk district," Amanullah told Xinhua.

A group of militants equipped with light and heavy weapons including suicide vests stormed Gereshk district in the troubled Helmand province at 6:00 a.m. local time today, triggering heavy fightings.

At least two blasts rocked the area and seven attackers, according to the official, had been killed in the blasts and gunshots of security forces until noon.

"A total of 16 attackers have been killed and their conspiracy to capture Gereshk district have been thwarted," Amanullah said.

The official, however, declined to comment on the possible casualties of security forces.

Meantime, hospital sources in Helmand provincial capital Lashkar Gah said that 21 injured people, five of whom are in critical condition have been taken to hospital for medical treatment until Wednesday afternoon.

Officials in Kabul have yet to make comment on the situation in Gereshk district.

Meantime, Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for the deadly attack in Gereshk district.

The armed outfit in an online statement said that a group of suicide bombers stormed the police headquarters and intelligence department of Gereshk district early Wednesday inflicting huge casualties.

Taliban's former stronghold -- the southern Helmand province which is notorious for poppy growing has been the scene of heavy fighting between government forces and Taliban militants over the past several months which have claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel as well as civilians, besides leaving thousands others homeless. Enditem