The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for an ongoing assault on a Pakistan Naval station in the southern city of Karachi, global media said.
The attack at 10:30 pm local time (18:30 GMT) on Sunday involved between 10 and 20 armed men, who took over three hangars at the base. Witnesses said they heard several explosions.
Three servicemen and six of the attackers were killed, Xinhua news agency said. Fighting is continuing between the attackers and the Pakistani armed forces.
"This was revenge for the agonizing death of Osama bin Laden," Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said. "This is evidence that we are still united and strong."
Pakistani commandos sealed off a group of Taliban militants in an office building at the base on Monday.
The terrorists are believed to be holding an unknown number of hostages as a human shield to fight back some 3,000 navy commandos, rangers and other armed forces.
Local media have criticized the military for failing to prevent the terrorists from entering the base.
MOSCOW, May 23 (RIA Novosti)
