Taliban siege at Afghan airport leaves 37 dead

Kandahar: At least 37 people were killed and 35 others wounded when Taliban militants stormed Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan, the defence ministry said yesterday.

"Nine insurgents have been killed, one other is injured," the ministry said.

"Unfortunately during the battle, 37 innocent Afghans were killed and 35 others injured," it added.

One security official said the assailants held some civilians as "human shields", which had complicated their clearance operation. The brazen raid occurred in Kandahar, which is recognised as the birthplace of the Taliban.