Three dead in Taliban attack on Afghan police HQ

Kandahar, Feb 12 (AFP) Three people including twopolicemen were killed and 26 wounded today in an attackclaimed by the Taliban on police headquarters in the volatileAfghan city of Kandahar.

A hit squad stormed a wedding hall across the road ataround midday (0730 GMT) and opened fire on the policebuilding amid reports of a total of up to six explosions inKandahar.

An AFP reporter at the chaotic scene saw attackers firingrocket-propelled grenades, AK-47 assault rifles and machineguns from the sixth floor of the wedding hall at the policeheadquarters.

He later said that police had entered the building andthere had been two loud explosions.

Zalmai Ayubi, a spokesman for the governor of Kandahar,said three people, including two policemen, had been killed inthe violence and 26 injured. The wounded included ninechildren, he added.

"Zarnegar hall, which is located on the other side of theroad, 50 metres (160 feet) away from Kandahar police HQ, hasbeen the source of the shootings on the police HQ," Ayubisaid.

A spokesman for the Taliban, Yousuf Ahmadi, said thegroup, for whom Kandahar is a traditional stronghold, wasbehind the attack.

"A team of our friends consisting of six men has enteredthe Zarnegar hall and have taken it under control," he toldAFP.

Most people in the city are staying indoors for fear ofbeing caught up in the unrest as the violence continues, theAFP reporter said.

A police officer at the scene speaking anonymously saidthere had been six explosions today in the city. (AFP)