*KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: *At least seven Taliban commanders broke out of aprison in Afghanistan, officials confirmed on Monday.
The prison break took place last evening in the southeastern Paktiaprovince. Abdullah Hasrat, spokesperson for the provincial governor, saidthat the prisoners escaped through the mosque inside the facility in Gardezcity, located 120km south of the capital Kabul.
Local broadcaster *Tolo News* reported that a total of 23 inmates managedto flee the prison.
Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban spokesperson, claimed in a tweet that theirfighters have managed to reach a secure place.
Earlier this month, at least 23 Afghan security forces were killed in aseries of Taliban attacks across the country, officials said , despitewinter snowfall that usually leads to a lull in violence.
Read Top Stories
The assaults targeted vulnerable checkpoints in at least three northernprovinces.
In Balkh, they stormed a checkpoint and killed at least seven policemen,according to provincial police chief Ajmal Fayez. -AA/AFP
