1st LD Writethru: Militants storm E. Afghan provincial capital, clashes continue

At least two police personnel were wounded and several militants killed after Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Mehtarlam city, capital of eastern Afghan province of Laghman, on Wednesday, a local official said.

"Hundreds of Taliban militants stormed joint posts of Afghan security forces in Maydani, Katal, Safiyo Qala, Armal and Basram localities in outer side of the city at wee hours of the day, sparking heavy clashes," the source told Xinhua anonymously.

Initial information found that two security forces were wounded and three others went missing following the clashes, he said.

"Heavy casualties were inflicted on the side of the militants and sporadic gun firing was still going on there roughly at midday," the source said, adding that more details will be made public later in the day.

Provincial Gov. Abdul Jabar Nahimi together with provincial security officials was holding a security meeting to monitor the situation and additional security forces were dispatched to the targeted localities, the provincial government said in a statement.

It was not immediately known if any civilian was hurt during the clashes in the city, 90 km east of Afghanistan's national capital Kabul.

The clashes came as the Taliban launched coordinated attacks in two separate locations in Kabul earlier on Wednesday, leaving at least one killed and 35 injured.

Taliban militants, who ruled the country before being ousted in late 2001, renewed armed insurgency, staging ambushes and suicide attacks, killing combatants as well as civilians.

They have been on rampage since the beginning of 2015 when the Afghan security forces assumed the full responsibilities of security from the U.S. and NATO forces. Enditem