Nato seizes area held by Taliban in Afghanistan

More than 1,000 Nato and Afghan troops clashed with Taliban and took over control of a district centre in southern Afghanistan long held by the militants, officials and witnesses said today.

The troops used helicopters, armoured vehicles and infantry in their push toward the town of Sangin in Helmand province, the world’s biggest opium-producing region, Nato’s International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.