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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Anti-Taleban offensive launched | Anti-Taleban offensive launched |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nato and Afghan forces have launched an offensive to drive Taleban insurgents from the outskirts of the southern city of Kandahar. | Nato and Afghan forces have launched an offensive to drive Taleban insurgents from the outskirts of the southern city of Kandahar. |
| Reports from the area speak of minor clashes and exchanges of gunfire between the two sides. | Reports from the area speak of minor clashes and exchanges of gunfire between the two sides. |
| A Nato spokesman said the operation was led by Afghan troops and backed by Canadian soldiers. | A Nato spokesman said the operation was led by Afghan troops and backed by Canadian soldiers. |
| Hundreds of people fled their homes in Arghandab district near Kandahar city ahead of the fighting. | Hundreds of people fled their homes in Arghandab district near Kandahar city ahead of the fighting. |
| Nato spokesman Mark Laity told AFP news agency that the number of troops involved was "substantial". | Nato spokesman Mark Laity told AFP news agency that the number of troops involved was "substantial". |
| "Because operations are ongoing we can only give limited details, but so far we've reports of only minor contacts and there are no reports of casualties," he added. | "Because operations are ongoing we can only give limited details, but so far we've reports of only minor contacts and there are no reports of casualties," he added. |
| Jail break | Jail break |
| The Afghan defence ministry said that around 300 to 400 militant fighters were operating in Arghandab district and had taken at least eight villages. | The Afghan defence ministry said that around 300 to 400 militant fighters were operating in Arghandab district and had taken at least eight villages. |
| One Kandahar resident, Zahir Jaan, told the BBC: "Most of the roads have been closed, there are check posts everywhere, planes are flying and military convoys belonging to the Afghan and foreign forces are patrolling the city." | One Kandahar resident, Zahir Jaan, told the BBC: "Most of the roads have been closed, there are check posts everywhere, planes are flying and military convoys belonging to the Afghan and foreign forces are patrolling the city." |
| A Canadian military news release said officials patrolling through Arghandab over the past day had reported "no obvious signs of insurgent activity", but that did not mean the Taleban were not there. | A Canadian military news release said officials patrolling through Arghandab over the past day had reported "no obvious signs of insurgent activity", but that did not mean the Taleban were not there. |
| On Friday about 350 Taleban fighters escaped with other inmates from a jail in Kandahar. Only a handful of prisoners have been recaptured. | On Friday about 350 Taleban fighters escaped with other inmates from a jail in Kandahar. Only a handful of prisoners have been recaptured. |
| The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says it is not clear whether some of those militants are being targeted by the current offensive. | |
| Arghandab is close to Kandahar city, allowing the Taleban to launch ambushes and attacks more easily than any other place in the province Provincial council member Haji Agha Lalai 'My family were forced to flee' Four UK soldiers killed | |
| Our correspondent adds that the jail raid was a major coup for the Taleban, which draws much of its support from the south of the country. | Our correspondent adds that the jail raid was a major coup for the Taleban, which draws much of its support from the south of the country. |
| Meanwhile four British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence says. | Meanwhile four British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defence says. |
| They were taking part in an operation east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province when their vehicle was caught in an explosion. | They were taking part in an operation east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province when their vehicle was caught in an explosion. |
| Symbolic importance | |
| Arghandab district lies about 5km (three miles) north-west of Kandahar city and is an important agricultural area. | |
| It offers good fighting positions for Taleban militants with its vineyards and pomegranate orchards and numerous irrigation ditches. | |
| Haji Agha Lalai, a provincial council member and head of the province's reconciliation commission, said the militants were destroying bridges and planting mines to repel Afghan and Nato forces. | |
| "From a strategic military point of view, Arghandab is a very good place for the Taleban," Mr Lalai told the Associated Press. | |
| "Arghandab is close to Kandahar city, allowing the Taleban to launch ambushes and attacks more easily than any other place in the province. Secondly, it's covered with trees and gardens - they can easily hide from air strikes," he added. | |
| Kandahar is one of the key battlegrounds of the current rebel insurgency against Afghanistan's government and troops from Nato and a US-led coalition. | |
| President Hamid Karzai is from the city and it is also the birthplace of the Taleban. | |
Are you in southern Afghanistan? Do you know the villages in the Arghandab district? Send us your comments. | Are you in southern Afghanistan? Do you know the villages in the Arghandab district? Send us your comments. |