Taliban Take Control Of Afghan District

Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said police withdrew from the Mian Nisheen district of Kandahar Province late on June 18.

But he described the withdrawal as "temporary" and said authorities were planning an operation to retake the district.

Bashary also said 10 civilians, four police officers, and up to 60 Taliban were killed in days of fighting in neighboring Oruzgan Province.

But he denied claims that dozens more civilians were killed by NATO air strikes in Oruzgan.

(AFP, AP)