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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Taliban ammunition 'running low' | Taliban ammunition 'running low' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Taliban militants battling coalition troops in Marjah, in Afghanistan, are running out of ammunition, Nato officials say. | Taliban militants battling coalition troops in Marjah, in Afghanistan, are running out of ammunition, Nato officials say. |
| A BBC correspondent in Kandahar says that from eavesdropping on Taliban communications, Nato understands militants have called for support. | A BBC correspondent in Kandahar says that from eavesdropping on Taliban communications, Nato understands militants have called for support. |
| On Wednesday, an Afghan general said Taliban fighters were increasingly using civilians as "human shields". | On Wednesday, an Afghan general said Taliban fighters were increasingly using civilians as "human shields". |
| The Afghan-Nato offensive in Helmand province has entered its sixth day. | The Afghan-Nato offensive in Helmand province has entered its sixth day. |
| Officials say they expect stiff resistance. | Officials say they expect stiff resistance. |
| Nato officers told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner in Kandahar that the resistance they were currently encountering was coming from small, disjointed but determined groups of fighters. | Nato officers told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner in Kandahar that the resistance they were currently encountering was coming from small, disjointed but determined groups of fighters. |
| Air support | Air support |
| In the next few days, US Marines and Afghan government troops are due to push into south-west Marjah, which is believed to be an insurgent stronghold. | In the next few days, US Marines and Afghan government troops are due to push into south-west Marjah, which is believed to be an insurgent stronghold. |
| During fighting on Wednesday, US Marines had to call in air support as they came under heavy fire from fighters hiding in bunkers and in buildings including homes and mosques. | |
| Afghan commander Gen Mohiudin Ghori said his soldiers had seen Taliban fighters placing women and children on the roofs of buildings and firing from behind them. | Afghan commander Gen Mohiudin Ghori said his soldiers had seen Taliban fighters placing women and children on the roofs of buildings and firing from behind them. |
| Day-by-day report and map Civilians die in Kandahar strike | Day-by-day report and map Civilians die in Kandahar strike |
| Gen Ghori, the senior commander of Afghan troops in the area, told the AP news agency: "Especially in the south of Marjah, the enemy is fighting from compounds where soldiers can very clearly see women or children on the roof or in a second-floor or third-floor window. | |
| "They are trying to get us to fire on them and kill the civilians." | "They are trying to get us to fire on them and kill the civilians." |
| Nato has stressed the safety of civilians in the areas targeted during Operation Moshtarak is its highest priority. | Nato has stressed the safety of civilians in the areas targeted during Operation Moshtarak is its highest priority. |
| One villager who had fled to Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, told BBC Pashto that relatives could not leave Marjah because the area was heavily mined. | One villager who had fled to Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, told BBC Pashto that relatives could not leave Marjah because the area was heavily mined. |
| "They say they can't get out of their home. If anyone takes a look outside they are fired upon by the Nato troops - they have no food left and can't go out to shop. | "They say they can't get out of their home. If anyone takes a look outside they are fired upon by the Nato troops - they have no food left and can't go out to shop. |
| "The Taliban left some places but are now resisting very strongly." | "The Taliban left some places but are now resisting very strongly." |
| Tribal shura | Tribal shura |
| On Wednesday, Helmand's governor, Gulab Mangal, visited Marjah and later travelled to Camp Bastion to visit injured civilians from the area. | On Wednesday, Helmand's governor, Gulab Mangal, visited Marjah and later travelled to Camp Bastion to visit injured civilians from the area. |
| A number of Afghan civilians remain in Marjah | A number of Afghan civilians remain in Marjah |
| Nato reports that he held a shura - a council meeting - with local tribal elders and officials to discuss security in Nad Ali. | Nato reports that he held a shura - a council meeting - with local tribal elders and officials to discuss security in Nad Ali. |
| British and Afghan troops are reported to be advancing more swiftly in the nearby district of Nad Ali than are their US and Afghan counterparts in Marjah. | |
| Afghan officials say that more than 1,200 families have been displaced and evacuated from Marjah and all are receiving aid in Lashkar Gah. | Afghan officials say that more than 1,200 families have been displaced and evacuated from Marjah and all are receiving aid in Lashkar Gah. |
| Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition offensive since the Taliban fell in 2001. | Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition offensive since the Taliban fell in 2001. |