Special forces attack hospital

Ameriacn special forces today attacked a hospital in southern Afghanistan where six al Qaeda fighters have been holed up for weeks.

The armed and wounded fighters, who have threatened to blow themselves up if anyone but a doctor enters their ward, were among a 19-strong group brought to Kandahar's Chinese Hospital shortly before the city fell to opposition forces on 7 December. Most have since escaped.

Gunfire erupted at the city centre hospital at 3am local time and two grenade blasts were heard. US snipers had taken up position behind the hospital walls and small arms fire and muffled explosions were also reported. Gunfire was earlier heard coming from the hospital.

Earlier this month a wounded fighter who tried to escape blew himself up when he was spotted by a Muslim cleric on his way to the hospital mosque for dawn prayers.