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Afghan forces struggling to hold against Taliban assault

Afgahn forces struggling to hold on

Afghan forces continue to hold out against a Taliban assault on the District of Sangin in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province. Correspondent Alexandra Field says local officials have been pleading with the central government for help after soldiers ran out of weapons and supplies, and there have been no reinforcements despite pleas for help to the central government in Kabul.  A police official said the Taliban took over the entire district except for the police chief’s compound and another compound, where a battalion of the Afghan National Army is based. He said that officers were running out of ammunition and food after several days of holding off the Taliban, but no help had reached them yet. Afghan officials have not responded to repeated calls from CNN to explain the situation. Afghan CEO Abdullah Abdullah said Monday that the government was working to relieve the forces and repel the Taliban. Meanwhile Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in transit on a previously scheduled trip to Azerbaijan during phone call attempts.