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Taliban Kill 16 in Southern Afghan City


Dust and smoke rise after an explosion in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Feb 12, 2011
Dust and smoke rise after an explosion in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Feb 12, 2011

Taliban insurgents staged a major assault Saturday on a police headquarters in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 40.

Officials say gunmen wearing suicide bomb vests attacked the police station with grenades and automatic rifles. Some were positioned in a wedding hall opposite the building.

Some of the bombers may have blown themselves up during the battle with police, while at least one car bomb is also said to have been used in the attack.

Officials say 15 police and one security agent were killed.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the siege. Despite an influx of foreign troops in the region, Kandahar province has remained a major center of Taliban activity.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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