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| Marjah Taliban resist Nato push | Marjah Taliban resist Nato push |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US forces are facing sporadic resistance around the Taliban haven of Marjah as a major offensive in southern Afghanistan moves into its fourth day. | |
| The progress of US troops has been hampered by sniper fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in some areas. | The progress of US troops has been hampered by sniper fire and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in some areas. |
| British and Afghan troops are reported to be advancing more swiftly in the nearby district of Nad Ali. | British and Afghan troops are reported to be advancing more swiftly in the nearby district of Nad Ali. |
| A Nato spokesman said they have begun setting up joint patrol bases to provide a permanent security presence. | A Nato spokesman said they have begun setting up joint patrol bases to provide a permanent security presence. |
| Unrelated to the Marjah offensive, an airstrike in neighbouring Kandahar province killed five civilians who were mistakenly believed to have been planting roadside bombs. | Unrelated to the Marjah offensive, an airstrike in neighbouring Kandahar province killed five civilians who were mistakenly believed to have been planting roadside bombs. |
| The deaths come after two US missiles struck a house on the outskirts of Marjah on Sunday, killing 12 people, half of them children. | The deaths come after two US missiles struck a house on the outskirts of Marjah on Sunday, killing 12 people, half of them children. |
| Nato has stressed that the safety of civilians in the areas targeted is their highest priority. | Nato has stressed that the safety of civilians in the areas targeted is their highest priority. |
| Insurgent attacks | Insurgent attacks |
| On Monday, Afghan Gen Aminullah Patiani told AFP news agency that "almost all" of Marjah and Nad Ali were under the control of US and Afghan forces. | On Monday, Afghan Gen Aminullah Patiani told AFP news agency that "almost all" of Marjah and Nad Ali were under the control of US and Afghan forces. |
| Day-by-day report and map Civilians die in Kandahar strike | Day-by-day report and map Civilians die in Kandahar strike |
| "The Taliban have left the areas, but the threat from IEDs remains," he said. | "The Taliban have left the areas, but the threat from IEDs remains," he said. |
| Despite Afghan government claims that the insurgents were on the run, Taliban fighters stepped up attacks against US Marines and Afghan soldiers in Marjah. | Despite Afghan government claims that the insurgents were on the run, Taliban fighters stepped up attacks against US Marines and Afghan soldiers in Marjah. |
| Small teams of insurgents repeatedly attacked troops and mine-clearing vehicles with rocket, rifle and rocket-propelled grenade fire. | Small teams of insurgents repeatedly attacked troops and mine-clearing vehicles with rocket, rifle and rocket-propelled grenade fire. |
| US Marines have twice unsuccessfully tried to clear a bazaar area in Marjah of enemy positions. | US Marines have twice unsuccessfully tried to clear a bazaar area in Marjah of enemy positions. |
| Marjah resident Haji Mohammed Jan told the BBC the Taliban had tried to stop people leaving, but he and others had managed to escape. | Marjah resident Haji Mohammed Jan told the BBC the Taliban had tried to stop people leaving, but he and others had managed to escape. |
| Dawud Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand's governor, said nearly 1,000 displaced families had arrived in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. | Dawud Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand's governor, said nearly 1,000 displaced families had arrived in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah. |
| Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition attack since the Taliban fell in 2001. | Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition attack since the Taliban fell in 2001. |
| The operation is also considered the first big test of US President Barack Obama's new "surge" strategy for Afghanistan. | The operation is also considered the first big test of US President Barack Obama's new "surge" strategy for Afghanistan. |
| Allied officials have reported only two coalition deaths so far - one American and one Briton killed on Saturday. | Allied officials have reported only two coalition deaths so far - one American and one Briton killed on Saturday. |
| Two other Nato soldiers died on Monday in unrelated bomb strikes in Helmand, military spokesman Sgt Kevin Bell said. | Two other Nato soldiers died on Monday in unrelated bomb strikes in Helmand, military spokesman Sgt Kevin Bell said. |
| Afghan officials said at least 27 insurgents have been killed so far in the offensive. | Afghan officials said at least 27 insurgents have been killed so far in the offensive. |