Fierce weekend fighting in the north of Afghanistan between Taliban forces and another militant Islamist group has left an estimated 50 people dead, and the clashes were continuing late Sunday night, according to reports from the area.  Local news reports quoted government and security officials from Baghlan province saying fighting erupted Saturday between the Taliban and fighters of the Hezb-e-Islami, a guerrilla faction under the command of longtime militia leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former Mujahideen leader in the battle against the Soviet Union…News agency reports and Afghan media said the two sides were firing heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades. Various government officials gave the total death toll at around 50 on both sides, but different officials gave wildly different breakdowns of the casualties. The Associated Press quoted a provincial police chief as saying more than 100 Hezb-e-Islami fighters pledged to switch sides and join government troops. – Washington Post