Afghanistan's civil war enemies made conflicting claims to the capture of a key district Sunday after heavy fighting broke out in central Bamyan province.
Opposition general Sayed Hussain Anwari said resistance forces captured Yakawlang district to the west of Bamyan's provincial centre on Saturday in a heavy attack against the ruling Taliban militia's bunkers.
He said troops from two Shiite parties, Wahdat-i-Islami and Harakat-i-Islami, reached the district center, a claim dismissed by officials from the Sunni Taliban.
Taliban Minister of Information Qudratullah Jamal said the opposition was on the offensive in the area but described their claims of victory in Yakawlang as baseless propaganda.
"We control Yakawlang but they have been making some preparations (for an attack)," he said.
The ruling militia's Radio Shariat quoting a local pro-Taliban Shiite leader, Mohammed Akbari, as saying Bamyan was quiet.
Bamyan, which houses two giant and ancient Bhudda statues, has been tense since Wahdat-i-Islami leader Karim Khalili returned from Iran recently -- KABUL (AFP)
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