KABUL – Dozens of bodies of Afghan soldiers have been found in a militarybase that Taliban militants stormed last week in the embattled southernprovince of Uruzgan, officials said on Thursday.

The attack in Chinartu district last Friday underlined the ferocity offighting in many areas of Afghanistan even as speculation has increasedabout a possible ceasefire during a religious holiday this month.

“We have discovered and transported 40 bodies from the area, so far,”district governor Faiz Mohammad said, adding that a number of members ofthe security forces were still missing.

News of the attack only began filtering out over the past two days.Muhammad Radmanish, a spokesman for the ministry of defense, said 27 Afghansoldiers were killed and five wounded.

The base was back under control of security forces, said Radmanish but theattack has caused significant damage and weapons losses.

Amir Muhammad Barekzai, a member of the provincial council, said somesoldiers appeared to have been shot after they were captured but it was notpossible to obtain independent confirmation.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban said 46 members of theAfghan security forces were killed in the Uruzgan clashes.