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.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday that his government will recruit local tribesmen to fight the biggest increase in Taliban violence in years.

Nato defence ministers expressed confidence today that their beefed-up peacekeeping force in Afghanistan will stem the recent surge in violence as Nato troops move into the southern heartland of the deposed Taliban regime.

Defence Secretary John Reid today confirmed British forces will leave Afghanistan once the country can take control of its own security – as military officials warned that task could last more than a decade.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai chose a new Cabinet today, heeding calls to sideline warlords from top positions and creating a new post to oversee the fight against opium production.

President Hamid Karzai said today that delegates at a marathon constitutional council have overcome the chaos of an ugly walkout and are close to agreeing on his demand for a strong central government.