16 killed in Taliban attack on Ghazni City, eastern Afghanistan

Sixteen people have been killed and 33 others injured after Taliban militants launched a big offensive on Ghazni city, the capital of Afghanistan’s eastern Ghazni province on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ghazni province police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal said hundreds of Taliban militants had earlier attacked the police headquarters, national directorate for security and the provincial governor's office.

He did not mention the casualties on both sides but said that the militants had retreated from their positions and operations are underway to drive them out of the city.

"Sixteen bodies including 14 in uniform, two civilians and 33 injured people including eight civilians, were taken to hospital," head of Ghazni province hospital, Baz Mohammad Humat said.

 The Taliban militant group has yet to comment on the incident.