Taliban militants attack an Afghan prison
Updated
Taliban militants in Afghanistan have attacked the main prison in the southern city of Kandahar, allowing almost all of the eleven hundred inmates to escape.
The escapees include an estimated 400 Taliban members.
Peter Lloyd reports the Taliban used the cover of darkness to mount a rocket propelled grenade attack on guard towers, along with a suicide truck bombing at the main gates.
Around 40 militants stormed inside, exchanging gun fire with prison officers and opening cell doors.
Some inmates died in a gun battle with guards but Afghan authorities say it appears almost the entire prison population of eleven hundred and fifty made a getaway on foot. 400 are Taliban.
This is a major psychological boost to the rebel movement and a blow to the Karzai government which still struggles to uphold its authority in the south.
It will also deeply anger US and NATO led troops who have been handing Taliban prisoners over to Afghan authorities.
