Sniper teams attacked US Marines and Afghan troops across the Taliban haven of Marjah in Afghanistan as several gun battles erupted on the third day of a major offensive to seize the extremists’ southern heartland.

US Marines and Afghan soldiers stormed the Taliban-held town of Marjah today, as a major offensive began to break the extremists’ grip over a wide area of their southern heartland and re-establish government control.

A routine notice advertising the need for people to serve on US draft boards has prompted a flurry of press reports suggesting the Pentagon may restart the military draft.

Afghan leaders were divided today over how long the British-led multinational security force should remain in the war-ravaged nation.