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Pressure kept up on Taleban town Pressure kept up on Taleban town
(about 1 hour later)
International and Afghan troops are continuing a major offensive to capture a strategic town in southern Afghanistan from the Taleban. International and Afghan troops are continuing a major offensive to capture a strategic town in southern Afghanistan from Taleban insurgents.
A British spokesman said there was steady progress in fighting at Musa Qala during the night.A British spokesman said there was steady progress in fighting at Musa Qala during the night.
He denied Taleban claims that they had destroyed any armoured vehicles, adding the battle could go on for some days. The coalition reported no casualties, denying Taleban claims that several armoured vehicles had been destroyed.
Musa Qala is the only substantial town the Taleban hold in Afghanistan, where, they say, 2,000 troops are in place. Musa Qala is the only major town the Taleban hold in Afghanistan, and they say they have 2,000 troops there.
The BBC's David Loyn, in Kabul, says the town has been the main centre of drugs trading in the country since the Taleban moved in in February and has taken on symbolic importance for both sides. The BBC's David Loyn, in Kabul, says the town - in Helmand province - has been the main centre of drugs trading in the country since the Taleban took control in February. It has taken on symbolic importance for both sides.
'First significant move' Taleban 'being sorted'
Friday's attack by British and Afghan forces began in the afternoon, from three directions. The assault by British and Afghan forces began on Friday afternoon, from three directions.
The main assault is being conducted overnight by US troops. The morale of the Taleban is high... We will fight until the death Mullah AhmadullahTaleban commander
Several hundred US troops were later dropped from helicopters and fought on foot through the night.
The British spokesman said their task was to "kick the door in", so Afghan government troops backed by British units could move in.
The spokesman described progress as steady, but said the fighting could go on for some days.
This is the first major operation where the new Afghan army is playing a leading role, our correspondent says.
The Taleban defences include hundreds of mines.The Taleban defences include hundreds of mines.
The Taleban rejected an offer from the governor of the province to lay down their arms, and late on Friday, he told the BBC that the problem of Musa Qala was "being sorted". "The morale of the Taleban is high... We will fight until the death," Taleban commander Mullah Ahmadullah told the Associated Press news agency.
Taleban fighters have been given orders to carry out attacks far more widely than Musa Qala to try to deflect attention, but Nato sources say they have contingency plans to deal with that, our correspondent reports.
The rebels would not comment on a report by the chief of Helmand police that they had hanged a 12-year-old boy accused of spying for the British.
The Taleban rejected an offer from the Helmand governor to lay down their arms, and late on Friday, he told the BBC that the problem of Musa Qala was "being sorted".
Hundreds of local people fled after tribal elders were told of the attack and warning leaflets dropped from the air.Hundreds of local people fled after tribal elders were told of the attack and warning leaflets dropped from the air.
Controversial dealControversial deal
The Taleban takeover of Musa Qala was in contravention of a deal brokered with tribal elders when British troops withdrew from the town last year.The Taleban takeover of Musa Qala was in contravention of a deal brokered with tribal elders when British troops withdrew from the town last year.
The highly controversial move was portrayed at the time as a "win-win" situation, with the Taleban and British pull-out leaving local forces to assume control of local government.The highly controversial move was portrayed at the time as a "win-win" situation, with the Taleban and British pull-out leaving local forces to assume control of local government.
British officers maintained it was a redeployment rather than a withdrawal; freeing them up to take on Taleban forces in other parts of Helmand.British officers maintained it was a redeployment rather than a withdrawal; freeing them up to take on Taleban forces in other parts of Helmand.
It was even suggested that it could act as a model for reducing violence in the volatile province. But the deal was strongly criticised by some Afghan and US officials.It was even suggested that it could act as a model for reducing violence in the volatile province. But the deal was strongly criticised by some Afghan and US officials.