Afghan security forces supported by Nato-led troops will soon launch an operation to recapture a southern town that was overrun by Taliban militants, an official said today.

Hundreds of Taliban militants overran a southern Afghan town that British troops left after a contentious peace agreement in October, destroying the government centre and temporarily holding elders hostage, officials and residents said today.

Taliban militants overran a southern Afghan town where a peace agreement had been negotiated last fall, disarming police, burning the government compound and threatening elders, officials and a resident said today.