AFGHAN opposition forces yesterday seized further ground against the Taliban after routing the Islamic militia from the northern capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, leaving hundreds dead.
According to UN sources, most of the 53 foreigners evacuated from Mazar-i-Sharif had been moved to Uzbekistan and placed safely on a UN flight to Islamabad, as the Taliban retreated from the city under heavy fire.
Two days of heavy fighting have left hundreds dead, according to Red Cross officials.
"Our expatriate staff and local employees are busy collecting the bodies in Mazar-i-Sharif," a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. But he declined to say which side suffered most casualties in the fighting which erupted on Tuesday.
The Taliban, who only four days ago marched triumphantly into Mazar-i-Sharif, lost two other areas, amid heavy casualties, to forces loyal to Gen Ahmed Shah Masood, near the town of Jabul Siraj, just 77 km north of Kabul.
The "strong attack" was launched before Muslim dawn prayers, only six km east of Jabul Siraj. According to hospital sources, around 70 war-wounded have been brought to Kabul in two days.
Yesterday's attack was the second by Gen Masood's troops in four days along the highway linking Kabul with the central Asian border, which the Taliban earlier claimed to have reopened.
Taliban fighters retreated from Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday after bitter clashes with the army of Gen Abdul Malik and a pro-Iranian Muslim militia.
Having switched allegiance from the northern warlord, Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum, who fled to Turkey, Gen Malik turned on the Taliban after they tried to disarm his fighters.
Gen Dostum said in Ankara yesterday he wanted to make peace with his former ally.
According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, Taliban officials have started talks with Gen Malik's representatives.