Wednesday, February 17, 2010
MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) — Military commanders raised the Afghan flag in the bullet-ridden main market of the Taliban’s southern stronghold of Marjah on Wednesday as firefights continued to break out elsewhere in town between holed-up Taliban and U.S. and Afghan troops. About 15,000 NATO and Afghan troops are taking part in the offensive around Marjah, a town of about 80,000 people that was the largest population center in southern Helmand province under Taliban control. NATO hopes to rush in aid and public services as soon as the town is secured to try to win the loyalty of the population.