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Pressure kept up on Taleban town Toll rises in Taleban town battle
(about 9 hours later)
International and Afghan troops are continuing a major offensive to capture a strategic town in southern Afghanistan from Taleban insurgents. Twelve insurgents and two children have died during an assault by Afghan and international forces on a Taleban-held town, the Afghan defence ministry says.
A British spokesman said there was steady progress in fighting at Musa Qala during the night. The assault on Musa Qala, which began on Friday, is going "according to plan" a spokesman for Nato-led forces said.
The coalition reported no casualties, denying Taleban claims that several armoured vehicles had been destroyed. A British spokesman described progress as steady, but said the fighting could go on for some days.
Musa Qala is the only major town the Taleban hold in Afghanistan, and they say they have 2,000 troops there. Musa Qala is the only major town held by the Taleban, who say they have 2,000 fighters there.
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. The coalition has reported no casualties, denying Taleban claims that several armoured vehicles had been destroyed.
Taleban 'being sorted' The twelve Taleban were killed during fighting, while the two children were killed when security forces clashed with Taleban travelling in a convoy with civilians, a spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry said.
Drug trade stronghold
The assault by British and Afghan forces began on Friday afternoon, from three directions.The assault by British and Afghan forces began on Friday afternoon, from three directions.
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.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 morale of the Taleban is high... We will fight until the death Mullah AhmadullahTaleban commander
The spokesman described progress as steady, but said the fighting could go on for some days. A British spokesman said their task was to "kick the door in", so Afghan government troops backed by British units could move in.
This is the first major operation where the new Afghan army is playing a leading role, our correspondent says. 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.
Civilian fears
This is the first major operation where the new Afghan army is playing a leading role.
Afghan troops are playing a key part in the operation"The Afghan national army in this operation has been performing outstandingly," said ISAF spokesman Brigadier-General Carlos Branco.
"We don't have any doubts that the army is in condition to do its job properly, not only in this operation, but nationwide."
Hundreds of local people fled after tribal elders were told of the attack and warning leaflets dropped from the air.
Musa Jan, a resident of Musa Qala district, told the Associated Press that residents were trying to keep Taleban fighters out of their homes:
"If we let the Taleban in, NATO will bomb our homes."
Withdrawal hope
The Taleban defences include hundreds of mines.The Taleban defences include hundreds of mines.
"The morale of the Taleban is high... We will fight until the death," Taleban commander Mullah Ahmadullah told the Associated Press news agency."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.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. Our correspondent says that the Taleban cannot hold on indefinitely with their Kalashnikovs and rocket-propelled grenades against the superior technical and tactical power of the international forces.
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". He says Nato and Afghan commanders will be hoping the Taleban will stage a tactical withdrawal, but the fear is that some insurgents will stay to fight, hoping to become martyrs and inflict as many casualties as they can.
Hundreds of local people fled after tribal elders were told of the attack and warning leaflets dropped from the air. In other developments:
  • The Taleban 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.
  • A Nato soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, Isaf said in a statement, though it did not say where the incident happened.
  • US-led forces said they had dropped a precision-guided bomb on a militant compound in Musa Qala district, killing several militants, including a commander.
    • 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.