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Taleban 'seize Afghan district' Taleban 'seize Afghan district'
(40 minutes later)
The Taleban have ousted Afghan security forces from a district headquarters in western Farah province, police say. The Taleban have ousted Afghan security forces from a district headquarters in the western Farah province after days of heavy fighting, police say.
Government forces beat a retreat after days of fighting, Farah police chief Sayed Aqa Saqib told the BBC. The forces were besieged and support was unable to reach them, Farah police chief Sayed Aqa Saqib told the BBC.
He said government personnel had been besieged by militants and support had been unable to reach them. The Taleban have fought fierce battles with Afghan and foreign troops this year, mostly in the south and east, in which hundreds of people have died.
The Taleban and their allies have fought fierce battles with Afghan and foreign troops this year, in which hundreds of people have been killed. The Farah attack has raised concerns of a new front opening up in the west.
Hundreds of heavily-armed Taleban fighters have been involved in this week's violence in the province, the authorities say.
The Taleban set ablaze the building housing the district office Qari Mohammad Yousuf Taleban spokesmanThe Taleban set ablaze the building housing the district office Qari Mohammad Yousuf Taleban spokesman
Most of the violence has taken place in southern and eastern Afghanistan. The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press quoted the country's hardline former rulers as saying they took the Golestan district headquarters "after a brief clash" on Thursday evening.
On Thursday, the authorities in Farah said one policeman had been killed in fighting with the Taleban.
Four more policemen elsewhere in the province died in an attack on their convoy.
The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press quoted the Taleban as saying they took the Golestan district headquarters "after a brief clash" on Thursday evening.
"A soldier was killed and two government vehicles were destroyed in the clash," a Taleban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf, told the news agency."A soldier was killed and two government vehicles were destroyed in the clash," a Taleban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf, told the news agency.
"The Taleban set ablaze the building housing the district office.""The Taleban set ablaze the building housing the district office."
At least one policeman was killed in the raid on the headquarters, police said on Thursday. It is not clear if there were Taleban casualties.
On Wednesday, four more policemen and four militants died in a clash elsewhere in the province, police said. Earlier in the week a roadside bombing wounded four Italian soldiers.
Farah province borders Iran, and Nato and Afghan officials say they are aware it could become a new front in the war with the Taleban as insurgents flee clashes in the south.
"If there is the possibility of some sort of security deterioration in the area, we will get onto it very quickly," Nato spokesman Maj Toby Jackman told the Associated Press news agency.
Just 1,600 Nato-led troops operate in western Afghanistan's deserts and mountains, with most foreign firepower concentrated in southern and eastern provinces.
Nato tensionsNato tensions
The latest violence comes after Poland said it would send 1,000 more troops to Afghanistan next February as part of the Nato peacekeeping force there.The latest violence comes after Poland said it would send 1,000 more troops to Afghanistan next February as part of the Nato peacekeeping force there.
ISAF TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN Total Isaf troops - 18,500Contributing nations - 37Isaf - International Security Assistance Force*A further 18,000 non-Isaf, US-led troops also in country Regional press concern Send us your commentsISAF TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN Total Isaf troops - 18,500Contributing nations - 37Isaf - International Security Assistance Force*A further 18,000 non-Isaf, US-led troops also in country Regional press concern Send us your comments
Thursday's announcement followed demands by Nato generals for an extra 2,500 troops for the operation in southern Afghanistan. Thursday's announcement followed demands by Nato generals for an extra 2,500 troops for the operation in southern Afghanistan, where forces are suffering mounting casualties in the fighting.
Nato forces in the south are suffering mounting casualties in the fighting with the Taleban and other militants.
But the BBC's Jonathan Marcus says Nato officials in Belgium are making it clear the Polish deployment will not provide the solution commanders had hoped for.But the BBC's Jonathan Marcus says Nato officials in Belgium are making it clear the Polish deployment will not provide the solution commanders had hoped for.
Our correspondent says they urgently need more troops before the onset of winter, when the fighting will slow down.Our correspondent says they urgently need more troops before the onset of winter, when the fighting will slow down.
There are at least 18,500 foreign, mainly Nato soldiers in Afghanistan in addition to about the same number of US troops deployed.There are at least 18,500 foreign, mainly Nato soldiers in Afghanistan in addition to about the same number of US troops deployed.
Half of them are in the south where Canadian and British forces are sharing the burden with US aircraft support and special forces on the ground.Half of them are in the south where Canadian and British forces are sharing the burden with US aircraft support and special forces on the ground.