Anti-Taliban alliance gains ground in northern Afghanistan

KABUL, Dec 17 (AFP) - Afghanistan's anti-Taliban alliance claimed Friday its fighters have gained ground in the northern province of Sar-i-Pul after they hit back a dawn attack by the ruling militia soldiers.

A statement received from Haraka-i-Islami party, one of the factions in the northern-based alliance, said opposition forces captured the Do-Abi region in Sar-i-Pul province.

"The Taliban started their attacks early in the morning from Do-Abi region of Sar-i-Pul against our Mujahideen positions," it said.

After advancing they met resistance and were forced to retreat, the statement said. Opposition troops then charged the Taliban positions and chased them out of Do-Abi, it said.

Fifteen Taliban soldiers were taken prisoner and more than 40 were killed and wounded, it said.

The Taliban, which controls most of the country including the capital Kabul, are battling the rival alliance led by the ex-defence minister Ahmad Shah Masood who is entrenched in a stretch of land in the northeast.

Taliban comment and independent confirmation of the claim were not immediately available.

The religious militia said earlier they would not initiate fighting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.