Civilian casualty fears rising in embattled Afghan city

Fears were growing of civilian casualties as Afghan security forces backed by US airpower struggled to push the Taliban out of embattled Ghazni city, with reports of scores dead five days after fighting erupted.

Officials have said Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital two hours from Kabul, remains in government hands and that security forces are conducting a clearing operation.

But residents told AFP the insurgents remained in the streets, burning buildings and targeting civilians.

The United Nations said unverified reports put civilian casualties at more than 100 since the Taliban entered the city late Thursday, with residents also at risk from several days of US airstrikes.

An MP from Ghazni, Shah Gul Rezaye, said today that some parts of the city had been cleared.

But in others "the Taliban have positioned their fighters in high buildings shooting at security forces from there," he added.

Communication networks remained largely down, making any information difficult to verify.

"Ghazni is a ghost city now. The Taliban are going from house to house to find government officials or their relatives to kill," said one resident, Sayed Zia.

"Those who can are fleeing."