Nato generals today struggled to persuade allies to provide an extra 2,000 troops urgently sought by commanders caught unawares by the ferocity of Taliban resistance to the alliance push into southern Afghanistan.

Nato airstrikes and artillery have killed a further 92 suspected Taliban fighters, the alliance reported today, pushing its toll of militant dead in a 10-day offensive past 500.

A US-led coalition soldier has been killed in combat in southern Afghanistan, Nato said today.

Nato and Afghan forces killed 94 Taliban fighters in airstrikes and ground attacks in southern Afghanistan, the military alliance said today.

More than 40 suspected Taliban fighters and one Nato soldier have been killed during fierce fighting in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said today.

Nato and Afghan forces used artillery and air strikes overnight to keep up pressure on an estimated 700 Taliban trapped by an offensive that the alliance claims has killed at least 200 militants in southern Afghanistan, Nato said today.

Warplanes dropped bombs on suspected Taliban fighters hiding in orchards in a major Afghan-Nato offensive that the alliance said killed more than 200 militants in southern Afghanistan. Four Canadian soldiers were killed.

Warplanes today dropped bombs on suspected Taliban fighters hiding in orchards and ground troops fired artillery in a major Afghan-Nato offensive that killed more than 200 militants in southern Afghanistan.

A number of Nato soldiers have been killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan, it was announced today.