World | Afghanistan
Afghans hunt for prison escapees in southern Kandahar
Afghan and foreign troops were hunting on Saturday hundreds of prisoners, including militants, who escaped the main prison in southern Kandahar city after a raid by Taliban insurgents.
- Agencies
- Published: 19:16 June 14, 2008
Kandahar, Afghanistan: Afghan and foreign troops were hunting on Saturday hundreds of prisoners, including militants, who escaped the main prison in southern Kandahar city after a raid by Taliban insurgents.
Separately, an explosion killed four soldiers from the US-led force during an operation in the western province of Farah on Saturday, the single bloodiest toll among foreign troops in one day in recent weeks in Afghanistan.
Authorities have also launched a probe to find out if any security officials were involved in raid by several dozen Taliban fighters under darkness on Friday.
So far none of the prisoners have been tracked down, deputy justice minister Mohammad Qasim Hashimzai, told reporters.
"It was a very unprecedented attack and together with foreign forces, an operation has been launched to track down and arrest the prisoners."
Hashimzai said some 1,000 inmates, including up to 400 Taliban, were held in the prison before the attack.
He could not say how many had managed to escape, adding there were casualties among police, the Taliban and prisoners from a clash following the attack which began with a suicide bomber driving a truck into the jail gate.
Afghanistan
French president in Afghanistan talks of pullout
Two foreign doctors abducted
US ambassador to Kabul to quit, embassy says
Afghan troops complain about obsolete gear
Top Afghan peace negotiator killed
Procurement switch puts boot into Afghan dream
US struck secret deal with Taliban
Soldiers take dogs back home to bust stress
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
