British general hands over Afghanistan reins to US

General Dan McNeill, the highest ranking US general to lead troops in Afghanistan, has taken command of 35,500 Nato-led soldiers, putting an American face on the international mission after nine months of British command.

The transition yesterday came after a year of sharply increased violence following the alliance’s push into the Taliban’s southern heartland, and military officials said privately they expect McNeill to take a harder line with militants than his predecessor, General David Richards.

Richards backed a controversial peace deal in the southern town of Musa Qala that crumbled on Thursday when an estimated 200 Taliban fighters overran the town.

Nato said a targeted airstrike yesterday killed a key Taliban leader.

McNeill takes command after a bloody 2006 in which insurgents launched a record number of suicide and roadside bombs.

About 4,000 people died in insurgency-related violence last year, according to an Associated Press count based on numbers from US, Nato and Afghan officials.