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      Fresh Clashes, Conflicting Claims in Afghanistan's Helmand Province

   Fighting between Taliban militants and Afghan government forces has
   erupted in a highly-volatile corner of Helmand province.
   Afghan officials Wednesday claimed victory in southern Helmand
   province, saying they turned back a series of attacks by Taliban
   militants in Sangin. A spokesman for the provincial governor put the
   number of attackers at close to 1,000, including Arabs and Chechens
   linked to al-Qaida.
   Taliban officials also claimed victory in the Sangin offensive, telling
   reporters that their forces had taken over at least three police posts.
   Various Afghan officials put the total death toll in Sangin at four to
   six Afghan police officers and up to about 20 insurgents.
   Separately, the suicide bombing at a marketplace in central Ghazni
   province killed an anti-Taliban village elder and at least three
   others. Officials said 14 others were wounded.
   This is the traditional start of the summer fighting season in
   Afghanistan and more of the burden is being put on Afghan forces as
   NATO and coalition troops continue to draw down.
   Some officials say with so much at stake for both the Afghan government
   and the Taliban, they are wary of claims made by either side.
   For example, a NATO spokesman Wednesday was more cautious in describing
   the fighting in Sangin.
   U.S. Army Colonel Thomas Collins said there appeared to be about 10
   groups of eight to 10 insurgents and that it appeared the attacks were
   drive-by shootings. Collins also said that none of the checkpoints had
   been overrun.
   Sangin has long been one of the more violent sectors of Helmand
   province, featuring fierce conflict between Taliban fighters and
   British forces stationed there until recently.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/fresh-clashes-conflicting-claims-in-a
   fghanistans-helmand-province/1666197.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/fresh-clashes-conflicting-claims-in-afghanistans-helmand-province/1666197.html