Militants attack local bank in Afghan Gardez city, casualties feared

GARDEZ, Afghanistan, May 20 (Xinhua) -- A group of militants attacked a local bank in Afghanistan's Paktia provincial capital Gardez, 100 km south of Kabul on Saturday.

The attack was followed by gun shots and casualties were feared, a local official said but declined to be identified.

"A group of militants stormed the branch of New Kabul Bank in Gardez city at around 02:50 p.m. local time today and security personnel around the bank returned fire and since then fire exchange has been continuing," the official told Xinhua.