Afghan forces claim Kunduz control

Afghan forces pushed into the centre of Kunduz yesterday, triggering pitched gunfights as they sought to flush out Taliban insurgents who held the northern city for three days in a stinging blow to the country's Nato-trained military.

The stunning fall of the provincial capital, even temporarily, highlighted the stubborn insurgency's potential to expand beyond its rural strongholds in the south of the country.

Afghan forces, hindered by the slow arrival of reinforcements but backed by Nato special forces and US air support, struggled to regain control of the city after three days of heavy fighting.

But yesterday military convoys managed to penetrate into the centre of Kunduz after an overnight counter-offensive.

Residents told AFP that fierce gun battles and explosions were still echoing in parts of the city yesterday evening, and the streets are littered with Taliban bodies and charred and mangled vehicles.

"Afghan security forces are in control of Kunduz city," interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told AFP.

"The clearance operation will take some time as Taliban remnants are firing from inside civilian houses and booby traps have been planted in places."

The Taliban sent mixed messages concerning their progress yesterday, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid insisting that militant forces were holding their ground in the city.