Many Killed in Mazar-e-Sharif Fighting - 2001-11-25

Foreign Taleban prisoners have attacked Northern Alliance troops in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif, triggering heavy fighting and U-S airstrikes.

Many were reported killed and wounded on both sides, but the exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear.

There are reports that a U-S military adviser was killed in the shootout. But the U-S Defense Department denies that any U-S military personnel were killed. U-S special forces have been in the area for several weeks, working closely with the Northern Alliance military commander, Rashid Dostum.

The mainly Arab, Pakistani and Chechen prisoners were apparently able to seize guns from their Northern Alliance guards, though unconfirmed reports say the weapons used by the prisoners were smuggled into the old fortress housing them.

The prisoners surrendered a day earlier during the siege of the northern city of Kunduz. About 500 foreign fighters linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network were being held at the fortress.