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| Nato in major anti-Taleban drive | Nato in major anti-Taleban drive |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Nato and Afghan forces have begun what they say is their largest offensive against the Taleban in the south. | Nato and Afghan forces have begun what they say is their largest offensive against the Taleban in the south. |
| Operation Achilles will eventually involve more than 4,500 Nato troops and nearly 1,000 Afghan soldiers in Helmand province, the alliance says. | Operation Achilles will eventually involve more than 4,500 Nato troops and nearly 1,000 Afghan soldiers in Helmand province, the alliance says. |
| Most of the Nato troops will be British, with US, Dutch and Canadian troops also taking part. | Most of the Nato troops will be British, with US, Dutch and Canadian troops also taking part. |
| Last month Helmand's governor said up to 700 insurgents had crossed to fight British forces. | Last month Helmand's governor said up to 700 insurgents had crossed to fight British forces. |
| The operation began at 5am local time (0030 GMT) and will focus on the northern part of Helmand, said officials. | The operation began at 5am local time (0030 GMT) and will focus on the northern part of Helmand, said officials. |
| Shortly after announcing the operation, a Nato statement said one soldier had been killed in combat operations. | |
| It was later confirmed that the soldier was a British marine. | |
| 'Improving security' | |
| "This is the largest multinational combined ANSF [Afghan National Security Force] and Isaf [International Security Assistance Force] operation launched to date and it signifies the beginning of a planned offensive to bring security to northern Helmand," the head of the alliance's southern command, Dutch Major General Ton van Loon, had said earlier. | "This is the largest multinational combined ANSF [Afghan National Security Force] and Isaf [International Security Assistance Force] operation launched to date and it signifies the beginning of a planned offensive to bring security to northern Helmand," the head of the alliance's southern command, Dutch Major General Ton van Loon, had said earlier. |
| It would focus on "improving security in areas where Taleban extremists, narco-traffickers and other elements are trying to destabilise the government of Afghanistan", his statement said. | It would focus on "improving security in areas where Taleban extremists, narco-traffickers and other elements are trying to destabilise the government of Afghanistan", his statement said. |
| The operation in Helmand, where thousands of mainly British troops have been fighting daily battles against the Taleban, was launched at the request of the Afghan government, Isaf said. | The operation in Helmand, where thousands of mainly British troops have been fighting daily battles against the Taleban, was launched at the request of the Afghan government, Isaf said. |
| Vital Afghan power source | Vital Afghan power source |
| The rebels have been engaging British forces around the Kajaki dam - a strategically important hydro-electric plant that the military wants to secure so that it can be repaired and put to work. | The rebels have been engaging British forces around the Kajaki dam - a strategically important hydro-electric plant that the military wants to secure so that it can be repaired and put to work. |
| "Strategically, our goal is to enable the Afghan government to begin the Kajaki project," the statement said. | "Strategically, our goal is to enable the Afghan government to begin the Kajaki project," the statement said. |
| "This long-term initiative is a huge undertaking and the eventual rehabilitation of the Kajaki multi-purpose dam and power house will improve the water supply for local communities, rehabilitate irrigation systems for farmlands and provide sufficient electrical power for residents, industries and commerce," Maj-Gen Van Loon said. | "This long-term initiative is a huge undertaking and the eventual rehabilitation of the Kajaki multi-purpose dam and power house will improve the water supply for local communities, rehabilitate irrigation systems for farmlands and provide sufficient electrical power for residents, industries and commerce," Maj-Gen Van Loon said. |
| "Isaf and ANSF forces will continue to apply pressure to extremist forces and pursue reconstruction and development objectives until they are achieved," he added. | "Isaf and ANSF forces will continue to apply pressure to extremist forces and pursue reconstruction and development objectives until they are achieved," he added. |
| Meanwhile, US troops have come under heavy criticism after nine Afghan civilians were reported killed in a bombing raid by US troops in Kapisa province on Sunday. | Meanwhile, US troops have come under heavy criticism after nine Afghan civilians were reported killed in a bombing raid by US troops in Kapisa province on Sunday. |
| Reports said hundreds of people protested in the city of Jalalabad, near Pakistan, blocking the highway to Kabul. | Reports said hundreds of people protested in the city of Jalalabad, near Pakistan, blocking the highway to Kabul. |
| On Sunday, US forces were also accused of killing 10 civilians during a shoot-out in Nangarhar province, prompting demonstrations in the area and condemnation from President Karzai. | On Sunday, US forces were also accused of killing 10 civilians during a shoot-out in Nangarhar province, prompting demonstrations in the area and condemnation from President Karzai. |