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Five Militants Killed in Afghan Offensive

   Five Taliban militants have been killed in a major coalition offensive
   in southern Afghanistan to regain control of a Taliban stronghold.

     13 February 2010

   Afghan officials say five suspected Taliban militants have been killed
   in  a  major  coalition  offensive  in the southern Afghan province of
   Helmand.
   British,  U.S.  and Afghan forces launched the ground offensive in the
   town  of  Marjah  as part of an effort to regain control of one of the
   Taliban's largest remaining strongholds in the country.
   In  a Saturday news conference, British Major-General Nick Carter said
   coalition  forces  had  a successful "insertion" into Marjah on Friday
   with  no  casualties.   The  head  of  the  coalition forces' southern
   command says 60 helicopters were used in the mission.
   Carter also said Afghan President Hamid Karzai personally endorsed the
   mission in advance after he was briefed by Afghan security officials.
   About  15,000 U.S. Marines, NATO troops and Afghan soldiers are taking
   part in the mission, called Operation Moshtarak ("together").

   Officials  estimate NATO forces could face anywhere from a few hundred
   to up to 1,000 Taliban fighters.
   NATO  announced the offensive more than a week ago to give residents a
   chance to leave the area.  The alliance advised Marjah's population of
   around  80,000  to  remain  in their homes once the military operation
   begins.
   In   a   statement,  NATO  said  insurgents  who  do  not  accept  the
   government's  offer to reintegrate and join the political process will
   be  met with overwhelming force.  But the "strongest of measures" will
   be taken to protect civilians.
   The  offensive  is  the  largest combat operation since U.S. President
   Barack  Obama  ordered 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan in
   December.
   On Friday, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in
   eastern  Afghanistan  that  U.S.  officials  say  wounded several U.S.
   soldiers.
   The attack took place Thursday at a joint U.S.-Afghan military base in
   eastern Paktia province, near the Pakistani border.
   In   western  Afghanistan,  NATO  says  a  joint  Afghan-international
   security  force  killed  more than 20 militants during fighting in the
   Baghwa  district  of  Farah province on Friday.  NATO says troops were
   pursuing  a  Taliban  commander  suspected of plotting suicide attacks
   when they came under attack from militants.

   Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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