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| Afghan security better, says US | Afghan security better, says US |
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| Security in Afghanistan remains serious but is no longer deteriorating, the Nato commander in the country has said. | Security in Afghanistan remains serious but is no longer deteriorating, the Nato commander in the country has said. |
| At a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Turkey, General Stanley McChrystal told media the situation in Afghanistan had improved since last summer. | At a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Turkey, General Stanley McChrystal told media the situation in Afghanistan had improved since last summer. |
| While US President Barack Obama was considering a troop surge last October, Gen McChrystal warned in a UK speech that Afghanistan was deteriorating. | While US President Barack Obama was considering a troop surge last October, Gen McChrystal warned in a UK speech that Afghanistan was deteriorating. |
| His more upbeat assessment comes as Nato prepares a big Helmand offensive. | His more upbeat assessment comes as Nato prepares a big Helmand offensive. |
| Gen McChrystal told reporters on the sidelines of Thursday's meeting in Istanbul: "I still will tell you that I believe the situation in Afghanistan is serious. | Gen McChrystal told reporters on the sidelines of Thursday's meeting in Istanbul: "I still will tell you that I believe the situation in Afghanistan is serious. |
| I'm not prepared to say that we've turned the corner Gen Stanley McChrystal How to end the Afghan war Afghan suicide blast kills three | I'm not prepared to say that we've turned the corner Gen Stanley McChrystal How to end the Afghan war Afghan suicide blast kills three |
| "I do not say now that I think it's deteriorating. I think and I said that last summer, and I believed that that was correct. I feel differently now." | "I do not say now that I think it's deteriorating. I think and I said that last summer, and I believed that that was correct. I feel differently now." |
| He said changes introduced last year, including better co-operation with Afghan troops, had begun to yield results. | He said changes introduced last year, including better co-operation with Afghan troops, had begun to yield results. |
| But the American commander cautioned: "I'm not prepared to say that we've turned the corner, so I am saying that the situation is serious but I think we have made significant progress and set the conditions in 2009 and we'll make new progress in 2010." | But the American commander cautioned: "I'm not prepared to say that we've turned the corner, so I am saying that the situation is serious but I think we have made significant progress and set the conditions in 2009 and we'll make new progress in 2010." |
| His remarks come as coalition and Afghan troops prepare an offensive to capture the central Helmand town of Marja from Taliban militants. | His remarks come as coalition and Afghan troops prepare an offensive to capture the central Helmand town of Marja from Taliban militants. |
| Unlike past operations, plans for this one have been widely publicised - although no start date has been released - in the hope that civilians will stay out of the way. | Unlike past operations, plans for this one have been widely publicised - although no start date has been released - in the hope that civilians will stay out of the way. |
| Operation 'Together' | Operation 'Together' |
| It will be the first major military action since President Obama announced his surge of 30,000 extra US troops for Afghanistan in December. | It will be the first major military action since President Obama announced his surge of 30,000 extra US troops for Afghanistan in December. |
| MARJA FACTS Town and district located about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar GahLies in Helmand's 'Green Zone' - an irrigated area of lush vegetation and farmlandLast remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern HelmandArea considered a centre for assembling roadside bombsKey supply centre for opium poppies - lucrative revenue source for TalibanEstimates of Taliban numbers range up to 1,000 Population of Marja town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marja district is thought to have 125,000 | MARJA FACTS Town and district located about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar GahLies in Helmand's 'Green Zone' - an irrigated area of lush vegetation and farmlandLast remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern HelmandArea considered a centre for assembling roadside bombsKey supply centre for opium poppies - lucrative revenue source for TalibanEstimates of Taliban numbers range up to 1,000 Population of Marja town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marja district is thought to have 125,000 |
| The Pentagon has said the next 18 months could prove crucial for the international mission in Afghanistan, after more than eight years of efforts to stabilise the country. | The Pentagon has said the next 18 months could prove crucial for the international mission in Afghanistan, after more than eight years of efforts to stabilise the country. |
| A reminder of the challenge facing the coalition came on Thursday when a suicide car bomber killed three people near a hotel in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. | A reminder of the challenge facing the coalition came on Thursday when a suicide car bomber killed three people near a hotel in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. |
| The opening stages of the Helmand offensive - codenamed Moshtarak, which means "together" in the Dari language - have been under way for several weeks. | |
| The UK defence ministry said on Thursday the action had moved into a new phase over the last 36 hours. | The UK defence ministry said on Thursday the action had moved into a new phase over the last 36 hours. |
| Nato forces had taken part in an air and ground operation to clear insurgents from strongholds west of the Helmand province capital, Lashkar Gah, the ministry told journalists. | Nato forces had taken part in an air and ground operation to clear insurgents from strongholds west of the Helmand province capital, Lashkar Gah, the ministry told journalists. |
| As well as British and American forces, the operation will include 2,700 Afghan troops. | As well as British and American forces, the operation will include 2,700 Afghan troops. |
| While British troops target militants in the area of Helmand between Nad Ali and Lashkar Gah, US forces are expected to focus on Marja, the UK defence ministry said. | While British troops target militants in the area of Helmand between Nad Ali and Lashkar Gah, US forces are expected to focus on Marja, the UK defence ministry said. |