More than 100 members of Afghan security forces were killed when Taliban insurgents attacked a military compound in the central Maidan Wardak province on Monday, a senior defence ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We have information that 126 people have been killed in the explosion inside the military training center," the official said. A provincial official also said the death toll was over 100.

A government spokesman declined to comment. Earlier the government said 12 people had been killed. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack

At least three gunmen stormed the base following the explosion, igniting a firefight with Afghan security forces. All three gunmen were later killed in the exchange, according to a provincial official. "So far our reports show 12 have been killed and 20 wounded, most of whom were Afghan security forces," Akhtar Mohammad Taheri - the head of Wardak provincial council - told AFP.

Copyright Reuters, 2019

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019