The World : Fierce Afghan Battle Told

Afghan guerrillas reportedly killed dozens of Soviet and Afghan government soldiers in fierce street combat in Herat, a city in northwestern Afghanistan, after insurgent forces were surrounded in a government offensive. Reports from the Muslim guerrilla groups described heavy fighting in late March in the area. Guerrilla officials said that at least 52 Soviet and Afghan soldiers were killed and at least 40 were wounded in three days of fighting. The rebels also claimed to have shot down two Afghan army helicopters near the eastern city of Jalalabad on Saturday, killing eight crewmen.