KABUL, APR 24, (DNA) –  Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accepted on Monday the resignation of the defence minister and army chief of staff after more than 140 government soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on an army base last week, the president´s office said.

“Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi and Army Chief of Staff Qadam Shah Shahim stepped down with immediate effect,” the presidential palace announced in a post on its Twitter account.

Shah Hussain Murtazawi, acting spokesman for Ghani, told the resignations were because of Friday´s attack in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

At least 140 soldiers were killed and many wounded, an official in the city said on Saturday.

Other officials said the toll was likely to be even higher.