Scores killed in fighting over control of district in W. Afghanistan

KABUL, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Scores have been killed as fighting over the control of the strategically important Bala Murghab district in Afghanistan's western Badghis province has gotten impetus, deputy to provincial council Abdullah Afzali said Saturday.

Talking to local media ToloNews, Afzali claimed that the Taliban fighters launched a massive offensive on security checkpoints around Bala Murghab district some 10 days ago and so far about 50 security personnel had lost their lives and almost same number of security personnel sustained injuries.

More than 2,000 Taliban militants are involved in the attack on the beleaguered Bala Murghab district and have been tightening the noose to overrun the district, the official said, warning that the district would collapse if the government fails to send reinforcement to support the troops.

"If the militants were able to overrun Bala Murghab district, they would directly threaten the Badghis provincial capital Qala-e-Naw," Afzali said.

Earlier in the day, a statement released by the army in Qala-e-Naw reported that government forces crackdown from the ground and air on the Taliban had killed 51 armed insurgents over the past 24 hours.

Without providing information on the situation in Bala Murghab district and security forces casualties, the statement said the operations would last until the area is cleansed of the militants.

However, local news agency Pajhwok reported that the Taliban fighters had tightened the noose around Bala Murghab district and had overrun more than 20 security posts.

Taliban militants who have intensified activities over the past few months haven't commented on the situation in the besieged Bala Murghab district.