Afghanistan: Lashkar Gah residents urged to evacuate amid Taliban battle - BBC News

Residents of a besieged Afghan city have been urged to evacuate ahead of an army operation against the Taliban.

General Sami Sadat, who is leading the battle against the Taliban in the southern province of Helmand, called on people to leave its capital Lashkar Gah as soon as possible.

At least 40 civilians have been killed in Lashkar Gah in the past day amid intense fighting, the UN says.

The Taliban are reported to have captured most of the city.

But the fighting is continuing and government forces have vowed not to let it fall into militant hands.

In a message to residents of the city, Gen Sadat said the army would "not leave a single Taliban alive".

"I know it is very difficult for you to leave your houses - it is hard for us too - but if you are displaced for a few days please forgive us," he said.

Gen Sadat earlier told the BBC that while government forces had lost ground, he believed the Taliban would be unable to sustain their assault.

The Taliban assault in Helmand province is part of a major offensive across Afghanistan.