Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Afghan militants battle Taliban, defect to gov't
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Afghan militants battle Taliban, defect to gov't
By RAHIM FAIEZ,Associated Press Writer -
Monday, March 8
Send
IM Story
Print
KABUL – Dozens of fighters died in armed clashes between the Taliban and another Islamist group in northeastern Afghanistan, and some militants defected to Afghan government forces Sunday as battles raged, officials said.
Fighters for the Hezb-e-Islami militia, loyal to regional warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, battled the Taliban with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns in Baghlan province, provincial Gov. Mohammad Akbar Barakzai said.
At least 50 militants and an unknown number of civilians have died in the fighting that started Saturday morning and was continuing through Sunday night. Officials said the battles were apparently over control of several villages where the government has almost no presence.
Violent clashes between anti-government factions are rare, although various loosely allied militias have their own agendas and power struggles are relatively common.
It was not immediately clear whether the clashes were a localized militant dispute or represented signs of a rift between the Islamist insurgent groups that fight international forces in the country and the government of President Hamid Karzai, who has appealed to various militant factions to enter peace talks.
Provincial police Chief Kabir Andarabi said more than 100 Hezb-e-Islami fighters, under pressure from the combat, pledged Sunday to join the government forces that have massed on the edge of the battle zone. The regional police commander, Gen. Ghulam Mushtaba Patang, put the number of defecting fighters at 50 but said the situation was in flux.
"It is correct that Hezb-e-Islami has come under pressure from the Taliban and some of them have already joined with the government," Patang said.
He said police amassed in the area had set up mobile hospitals and were offering medical care to any fighters willing to defect.
Provincial deputy police chief Zalmai Mangal said reports from the area indicate that at least 50 militant fighters were dead, 35 from Hezb-e-Islami and 15 from the Taliban. It was unclear how many total militants were involved, he said by telephone from a district near the fighting where government forces have rushed to observe and try to help any wounded civilians.
Police had not yet entered the area of the clashes as Sunday night, but were observing and awaiting central government orders, Patang said. He said civilian casualties were almost certain, but there was no government estimate for them yet.
It was unclear what touched off the fighting, but Mangal said that Taliban fighters reportedly had recently moved into villages that traditionally were controlled by Hezb-e-Islami.
Barakzai said the fighting centered around five to six villages west of Baghlan-e-Jadid district in the central part of the province. He also reported 50 militants killed, but did not have a breakdown of the casualties.
Baghlan and nearby Kunduz and Kunar provinces are considered the stronghold of insurgents loyal to Hekmatyar, a warlord who is allied with al-Qaida and whose fighters have for years operated alongside the Taliban.
Insurgent groups now control large swaths of Afghanistan's countryside, and NATO and Afghan troops have begun a series of offensives in the country's south to take back major population areas in hopes of allowing an effective civilian government to take root. The allied operations are not expected to target the northeastern mountains.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Sources: Pakistan arrests American-born al-Qaida AP - 2 hours 48 minutes ago
Karzai gets an earful in town seized from Taliban AP - Monday, March 8
Afghan militants battle Taliban, defect to gov't AP - Monday, March 8
Thailand's 'Red Shirts' kick off decisive week AFP - Monday, March 8
Afghan president gets an earful from seized town AP - Monday, March 8
News Search
Top Stories
Ex-intelligence officer wins USA Memory Championship
Sarkozy announces loans for crisis-hit French farmers
Greek civil servants occupy building
Australia police search anti-whaler ship at Japan request
US jobless rate holds at 9.7 percent despite storms
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Experts confirm asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs
Ex-intelligence officer wins USA Memory Championship
Australia police search anti-whaler ship at Japan request
Greek civil servants occupy building
Sony to take on Apple with handheld devices: WSJ
More Most Viewed »
Chile quake moved Earth's axis, shortened days: scientist
Florida killer whale to stay in park after deadly attack
DNA reveals some mystery on King Tut, raises questions
Scientists recreate Big Bang heat of 4 tln degrees C
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 8 March 2010 Afghan leader drums up support in captured town
German police hunt 'Ocean's 11' poker raid gunmen
Pakistanis arrest American al Qaeda spokesman
|
President Obama In Florida on April 15, to Elaborate On New NASA Initiatives
Biden to try to boost Middle East peace prospects
U.S.-Born Terrorist Calls On Western Muslims To Commit Domestic Terror
PLO gives nod for talks, Mitchell meets Netanyahu
|
Navy Fires "Abusive" Female Captain
Gunfire at Yemen hospital, clashes in south
|
World War II Era Plane Crashes Off Florida Coast
UK's LibDems: All alliance options open after vote
|
Chile looters give up quake spoils to avoid arrest
|
Haiti rebuilding plan expected this week
|
Tsvangirai urges peace force for next Zimbabwe poll
|
Sources: Pakistan arrests American-born al-Qaida
Karzai gets an earful in town seized from Taliban
Afghan militants battle Taliban, defect to gov't
Thailand's 'Red Shirts' kick off decisive week
Afghan president gets an earful from seized town
Heavy security is the new normal in China's Tibet
Palestinians agree to indirect peace talks with Israel
Afghan president gets an earful in seized town
Pakistan close to nabbing British boy's kidnappers
More assertive China chafes at 'tough' label
China indicates hard line on Dalai Lama succession
Oscar sets the stage for ladies night
Swiss vote against lawyers for animals
Oscar sets the stage for ladies night
|
Einstein's theory of relativity on display
Seventeen killed in quake in eastern Turkey
Pakistanis arrest American al Qaeda spokesman
|
France claims biggest haul of pirates off Somalia
Brides and wounded: the saga of the Afghan cab
Earthquake in eastern Turkey kills 41
|
Visitor numbers up at world's top high-tech fair: organisers
Europe ready to help Greece 'if necessary': Sarkozy
Bomb attack on Pakistani police kills 11
|
Eurozone ready to help Greece 'if necessary': Sarkozy
Gadgets galore as Somali pirates spur booming sector
Iceland vote: president challenges British PM
Iraq holds landmark vote, attacks kill 38
|
China's women struggle for a foothold in power
|
"Precious" Wins Best Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay Oscars; Ben Stiller Gets Laughs
Canada to ban militant Somali Islamist group
|
Brat Pack, Macaulay Culkin Pay Posthumous Tribute To John Hughes During Oscars
Christoph Waltz Wins First Award Of Oscar Night
Remains Of Missing California Teen Found In Remote Area
North Korea on combat alert as U.S., South hold drills
|
Blasts kill 12 in northwest Afghanistan
|
Japan PM in a bind as upper house election looms
|
Petraeus warns Iran becoming 'thugocracy'
3rd acid attack in Hong Kong district in half year
PLO gives nod for talks, Mitchell meets Netanyahu
|
Haiti's leader to see Obama, hat in hand
Vietnam releases human rights lawyer from prison
Pakistan car bomb kills 11: official
Blast hits police building in Pakistan, 8 dead
Bomb in Pakistan's Lahore kills 8
S.Korea, US launch war games despite N.Korean threats
Iraq drama 'The Hurt Locker' rules Oscars
Blast hits police building in Pakistan, 11 dead
Police: Blast kills 3 eastern Pakistan
Excitement builds as stars land on Oscars red carpet
Blast hits police building in Pakistan, 11 dead
Shanghai mayor to visit Taiwan in early April
Oscars -- LIVE REPORT
Iraq drama 'The Hurt Locker' rules Oscars
"The Hurt Locker" wins Oscar for best picture
Christoph Waltz wins Oscar for "Basterds"
Mo'Nique wins best supporting actress Oscar
Pixar's "Up" wins best animated film Oscar
Hurt Locker sweeps Oscars and makes history
|
Is your Oscar pool legal?
"She's Out of My League" an inspirational comedy
Excitement builds as stars land on Oscars red carpet
Bullock wins best actress Oscar for Blind Side
|
Martin, Baldwin give stars comic one-two punch
|
SKorean finance chief warns against rate increase
S.Korea seen buying dlrs to check won -traders
The Hurt Locker wins Oscar for best picture
|
Dolphin hunt film The Cove wins documentary Oscar
|
S.Korea fin min says too early for rate hike
Argentina's Secret wins best foreign film Oscar
|
S.Korea says yuan appreciation part of G20 agenda
Jeff Bridges wins best actor Oscar in Crazy Heart
|
S.Korea says plans no new capital controls
PAKISTAN
Japan mayor protests dolphin hunt documentary Oscar
|
Seoul shares rise helped by telcos, steel issues
Mo'Nique wins best supporting actress Oscar
|
Korea Hot Stocks
Christoph Waltz wins Oscar for Basterds
|
S.Korean bond futures edge down on U.S. jobs data
S.Korea SK E&C wins $260 mln Ecuador order
Amnesty slams Nordic states over sexual violence
Palestinians: indirect talks last chance for peace
US to allow web service exports to strict nations
Israel okays new West Bank settler homes
Afghan bomb attacks kill 11 civilians: ministry
Greek PM urges wider efforts to rein in speculators
|
US insurer MetLife to buy AIG unit for $15.5 bln
Child Mistakes Gun For Game Controller; Accidentally Shoots Herself
Transportation Dept. Shuts Down Tour Bus Operator In Fatal Arizona Crash
G20 governments containing protectionism: WTO
|
Shell, PetroChina bid for Australia energy firm
Brooke Burke Announced As The New "DWTS" Co-Host
President Obama Expected To Tap Robert Harding To Head TSA
Rich nations must act to close gender pay gap: OECD
|
Danny Glover Asks Stars To Boycott Hugo Boss On Oscar Night
Turnout appears healthy in Iraq vote despite attacks
Report Suggests Sunlight May Reduce Kidney Cancer Risk In Men
Biden in Israel after pledging U.S. support on Iran
Radiation For Early-Stage Breast Cancer May Not Be Needed
Russian-American "Jersey Shore" Reality Show Planned
Troops face hard fight, Gates warns on Kabul visit
India's ruling party loses support over women's bill
Thai PM calls off Australia trip ahead of protest
Organizers prep for 70 mln Shanghai Expo visitors
Cambodian rape victims face bribes, corruption
Malaysia traces 2 stolen jet engines to Uruguay
China looks to narrow city-rural development gap
Myanmar enacts election laws, but no date for poll
Panasonic ties with Best Buy for 3D TV promotion
|
Four in five believe Web access a fundamental right
|
Kandahar offensive to wait for more troops
Taliban car bomb kills 13 in Pakistan's Lahore
Gates in Afghanistan; meets with military leaders
India auto sales surge 49 percent in February
Gates looks to broader Afghan offensive
Pakistani stocks end higher; rupee slightly weaker
Toyota chief meets Japan PM, vows to rebuild trust
China banker says local govt debt may be bank risk
Taiwan cbank seeks mortgage info in sign of concern
Gowns and gems dazzle on Oscars red carpet
AIG set for $15.5 bln deal with MetLife: report
KEPCO to start awarding UAE nuclear deals soon
Indonesian police arrest 2 alleged gun suppliers
S.Korea keeps pressure on c.bank to hold rates steady
Indonesia says raids will not affect Obama visit
Chinese airline says president under police probe
India car sales rise 33 percent in February
Oscar-winning film-makers deny 'Japan-bashing'
Japan defends dolphin hunt in Oscar-winning 'Cove'
Gowns and gems dazzle on Oscars red carpet
China court throws out 'Avatar' plagiarism case
Argentina's "Secret" wins surprise foreign film Oscar
James Cameron, Golden Globes lead Oscar losers
|
James Cameron, Golden Globes lead Oscar losers
Dolphin hunt film "The Cove" wins documentary Oscar
Lindsay Lohan's fashion adventure ends after one show
|
Bullock wins best actress Oscar for "Blind Side"
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights