800 Taliban Fight Afghan Troops in Five Day Battle: Officials

Kandahar: More than 800 Taliban insurgents have launched a major offensive in southern Afghanistan to try to gain territory recently vacated by US troops, officials said on Wednesday, as five days of fighting left about 40 civilians dead.

"About 800 fighters started to storm four districts of Helmand last Thursday night," Helmand provincial governor spokesman Omar Zwak told AFP.

"At least 21 Afghan forces have died and close to 40 civilians were killed."