KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – House of the Kandahar’s governor has been attacked by gunmen in southern Afghan province of Kandahar. The gunfire started shortly after midday on Saturday.
According to provincial spokesman, Zalmai Ayoubi, “Small-arms fire is still going on. Two RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) have been fired onto the building so far. The northern and eastern sides of the compound are under direct attack,”
According to officials at the city’s main hospital Dr. Irsan, at least 12 people had been wounded, he confirmed that some of the wounded had been caught up in the firefight at the intelligence agency and the others had been shot in the cross fire around the governor’s compound. The number of deaths has not been confirmed yet.
It’s not clear if the attackers had managed to enter the compound, police have blocked reporters from getting close to the site and the fighting is continuing.
The attack comes a day after the Taliban issued a staement on Friday say that Osama bin Laden’s death would boost the moral of the insurgency and threatening that they would show their strenght.
At least two large blasts were heard and the shooting is focused at the back of the compound, near the governor’s residence. Exact status of casualties have not been reported by officials yet, but Taliban Spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi has claimed that Taliban insurgents are behind the assault.
They have said that heavy casualties have been inflicted on the Enemy. It is still not clear if the governor was inside the compound or not.
Kandahar was a stronghold of the insurgent Taliban and is now under the control of Afghan and International forces.
