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| Villages empty before Afghan push | Villages empty before Afghan push |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of villagers living in a Taliban-controlled area of southern Afghanistan are leaving before a major Nato-led offensive gets under way. | Hundreds of villagers living in a Taliban-controlled area of southern Afghanistan are leaving before a major Nato-led offensive gets under way. |
| It is expected to be one of the largest counter-insurgency operations since the Afghan conflict began in 2001. | It is expected to be one of the largest counter-insurgency operations since the Afghan conflict began in 2001. |
| The operation to clear insurgents from the southern town of Marjah, in Helmand province, is expected to begin soon. | The operation to clear insurgents from the southern town of Marjah, in Helmand province, is expected to begin soon. |
| Meanwhile two British solders have been killed by a bomb in Helmand. They were not involved in the Marjah operation. | Meanwhile two British solders have been killed by a bomb in Helmand. They were not involved in the Marjah operation. |
| The two soldiers were on foot patrol in Sangin when they were killed by a roadside bomb on Sunday, the Ministry of Defence said. | The two soldiers were on foot patrol in Sangin when they were killed by a roadside bomb on Sunday, the Ministry of Defence said. |
| 'Scared' | 'Scared' |
| Nato says the town of Marjah is home to the biggest community under insurgent control in southern Afghanistan. | Nato says the town of Marjah is home to the biggest community under insurgent control in southern Afghanistan. |
| Operation Moshtarak - which means "together" in the Dari language - is expected to be launched within the next few days. | Operation Moshtarak - which means "together" in the Dari language - is expected to be launched within the next few days. |
| ANALYSIS Frank Gardner, BBC News, Kandahar | ANALYSIS Frank Gardner, BBC News, Kandahar |
| In the camps and bases here in southern Afghanistan there is a sense of impending action. | |
| Within the next few days thousands of British, US and Afghan assault support troops are due to move into an area of central Helmand province, dominated until now by insurgents and drug lords. | Within the next few days thousands of British, US and Afghan assault support troops are due to move into an area of central Helmand province, dominated until now by insurgents and drug lords. |
| The British general in overall command, Maj Gen Nick Carter, insists this will be different from previous operations where coalition forces have driven out the Taliban, then had too few troops to maintain security. | The British general in overall command, Maj Gen Nick Carter, insists this will be different from previous operations where coalition forces have driven out the Taliban, then had too few troops to maintain security. |
| Afghan forces will be followed up by the introduction of large numbers of newly trained police supported by the coalition, he says. | Afghan forces will be followed up by the introduction of large numbers of newly trained police supported by the coalition, he says. |
| Nato reportedly distributed leaflets in the Marjah area at the weekend warning of the planned offensive. | Nato reportedly distributed leaflets in the Marjah area at the weekend warning of the planned offensive. |
| Villagers said the leaflets gave the names of several alleged militant commanders and told fighters to leave the area or be killed, the Associated Press reports. | Villagers said the leaflets gave the names of several alleged militant commanders and told fighters to leave the area or be killed, the Associated Press reports. |
| One resident, Gul Muhammed, told AFP news agency why he had left town. | One resident, Gul Muhammed, told AFP news agency why he had left town. |
| "There are Taliban all over the place and foreign troops around Marjah," he said. "So I was scared that we might get hurt." | "There are Taliban all over the place and foreign troops around Marjah," he said. "So I was scared that we might get hurt." |
| Another man, Mohammad Hakim, was heading to Lashkar Gah with his wife, nine sons, four daughters and grandchildren. | Another man, Mohammad Hakim, was heading to Lashkar Gah with his wife, nine sons, four daughters and grandchildren. |
| "Everybody is worried that they'll get caught in the middle when this operation starts," he told the Associated Press. | "Everybody is worried that they'll get caught in the middle when this operation starts," he told the Associated Press. |
| "I can stay for one or two weeks," he said. "But if I have to leave my agriculture land for months and months, then how will I feed my family?" | "I can stay for one or two weeks," he said. "But if I have to leave my agriculture land for months and months, then how will I feed my family?" |
| Locals fear being trapped between troops and militants | Locals fear being trapped between troops and militants |
| Provincial officials believe about 200 families have left Marjah in recent weeks. | Provincial officials believe about 200 families have left Marjah in recent weeks. |
| But the International Committee of the Red Cross said there was no way to count how many people had left the town | But the International Committee of the Red Cross said there was no way to count how many people had left the town |
| Many are thought to have gone to stay with relatives or found other accommodation in nearby towns, rather than applying for emergency aid. | Many are thought to have gone to stay with relatives or found other accommodation in nearby towns, rather than applying for emergency aid. |
| 'Big test' | 'Big test' |
| The forthcoming offensive will be the first major military action since US President Barack Obama announced the deployment of 30,000 extra US troops. | The forthcoming offensive will be the first major military action since US President Barack Obama announced the deployment of 30,000 extra US troops. |
| MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD' Town and district 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 Marjah town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marjah district is thought to have 125,000 UK forces 'soften up' Taliban targets | MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD' Town and district 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 Marjah town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marjah district is thought to have 125,000 UK forces 'soften up' Taliban targets |
| Planning has been under way for weeks. | Planning has been under way for weeks. |
| The British general in overall command of the operation, Maj Gen Nick Carter, has told the BBC this will be the first big test for President Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan. | The British general in overall command of the operation, Maj Gen Nick Carter, has told the BBC this will be the first big test for President Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan. |
| For the first time, Gen Carter said, Afghan forces would be at the forefront of planning the operation. Afghan police would provide support after initial military operations. | For the first time, Gen Carter said, Afghan forces would be at the forefront of planning the operation. Afghan police would provide support after initial military operations. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, at the regional headquarters in Kandahar, says that commanders are aware of the Afghan police's sometimes dubious reputation and are preparing to monitor their performance during the operation. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, at the regional headquarters in Kandahar, says that commanders are aware of the Afghan police's sometimes dubious reputation and are preparing to monitor their performance during the operation. |
| The overall Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, said the operation would "send a strong signal that the Afghan government is expanding its security control". | The overall Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, said the operation would "send a strong signal that the Afghan government is expanding its security control". |
| Late on Sunday, UK Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth warned of likely casualties among coalition troops during the offensive. | Late on Sunday, UK Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth warned of likely casualties among coalition troops during the offensive. |
| Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand province | Operation Moshtarak: Assault in Helmand province |