KUNDUZ CITY - On the eve of the National Unity Government's one year anniversary, the Taliban launched a massive and well executed attack against the strategic northern city of Kunduz and by late afternoon Monday had taken control of the city.

The attack was launched at 3 a.m local time Monday from within Kunduz city. In addition, insurgents closed off the only four access points into the city – effectively preventing troops from entering and civilians from fleeing.

Officials said that the militants have also closed the airport road. Some reports state that hundreds of Taliban members split up into groups and carried out the coordinated attack.

Heavy fighting has been ongoing throughout the day and so far the Taliban has seized the provincial council building, the offices of the local High Peace Council, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) building, UNAMA offices and other key official facilities including private Banks.

Officials also reported that the Taliban has over run the local prison and freed all prisoners.

Reports indicate that heavy fighting continues around the police headquarters and the provincial governor's office.

However by late afternoon reinforcements arrived from Kabul and are stationed in the Dasht-e-Kandahari area were they are waiting for orders to storm the city.

One Kunduz resident, who lives close to the police headquarters, told TOLONews.com, on condition of anonymity, that civilians are off the streets and in hiding – mostly in their homes and in basements where possible.

He also said that businesses are closed and that the Taliban are focusing on strategic buildings and offices and are as yet not targeting civilians. He said the only strategic facility not in the Taliban's control was the airport.

A foreign NGO official said on condition of anonymity: "The situation is very bad. The fighting is particularly fierce in the southeastern area of the city."

Dominic Medley, UNAMA spokesman, said late afternoon that UNAMA has "temporarily relocated our staff from Kunduz to other locations in Afghanistan."

He also said that the situation in Kunduz is a matter of serious concern for UNAMA.

Power meanwhile, was cut to the city early Monday morning, residents confirmed and cellphone reception is also extremely limited with hardly any coverage.

They also say that the Taliban flag has been raised at a number of locations across the city including in the city centre.

Another Kunduz resident told TOLOnews.com that Taliban fighters are driving openly in the city in government military vehicles brandishing their weapons.

Earlier Monday, officials said that the bulk of Kunduz security forces were outside the city limits fighting the Taliban in a number of outlying districts when the early morning attack was launched.

Officials say reinforcement troops have been sent to the area along with air support. However, air strikes are not possible as the inner city is densely populated.

Reports earlier in the day from health officials put the casualty toll at 40 civilians – including dead and wounded. In addition 10 security force members were reportedly killed or wounded. No further details were however available.

Eyewitnesses meanwhile, report having seen scores of bodies in the streets of the city FOLLOWING 14 hours of heavy fighting.

According to local officials, Kunduz governor Mohammad Omer Safi is currently in Tajikistan and the security chief of the northern province is in Kabul.

It has also been reported that at least 45 Taliban members have been killed.

The province is one the most volatile provinces in the northern region of the country, with three districts reportedly under Taliban control. Security force members have waged an ongoing battle with insurgents in the area for the past few months.

Kunduz city meanwhile is a key hub in the extremely mountainous northern region, and the only road to Takhar and Badakhshan provinces leads out through the city.

Meanwhile, reporting from the outskirts of the city, TOLOnews journalist Karim Amiri says rumors are rife among the locals that the siege was pre-planned and an insider attack. He also says residents are desperately trying to flee the city. (Tolonews)