Afghan official say battle with Taliban underway in KunduzOctober 4, 2016 - 10:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Afghan officials say fierce gunbattles are still underway across the embattled northern city of Kunduz, almost 30 hours after the Taliban launched a multipronged attack there, the Associated Press reports. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi says Afghan security forces are "trying to secure the city" on Tuesday. He says Taliban gunmen are hiding in residential homes, making progress slow and difficult. The Taliban began their attack from all directions early the previous day. They briefly raised a flag over a main intersection before being repelled from the city center. Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of the provincial council says the city has become a battlefield with fighting going on in many different areas. The city fell to the Taliban a year ago before they were beaten back by Afghan and U.S. forces. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |