Afghan Taliban confirms loss of key city

KABUL, Feb 14 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia Wednesday admitted it had lost control of the key central Afghan city of Bamiyan to opposition forces.

"We have pulled out to the Ghorband T-junction" outside the city limits after the opposition soldiers launched an attack on the Taliban troops from the rear, a senior Taliban official said.

"There are losses on our part. We have left behind a number of vehicles and arms as well," he said.

The ruling militia soldiers were regrouping for a counter-attack, he added. "We have sent reinforcements. But it is not clear when we are going to launch the counter-attack," the Taliban official said.

Afghan opposition officials earlier said their forces captured Bamiyan in overnight battle, inflicting a major blow on the ruling militia.