Hundreds of Taliban occupy Afghan villages

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghan officials say hundreds of Taliban fighters have taken over several villages just outside southern Afghanistan's largest city, and NATO and Afghan forces are redeploying to meet the threat.

Mohammad Farooq, the government leader in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, said around 500 Taliban fighters moved into his district. Arghandab lies just north of Kandahar city -- the Taliban's former stronghold.

The push into Arghandab comes three days after a Taliban attack on Kandahar's prison freed hundreds of fighters.

NATO spokesman Mark Laity said NATO and Afghan military officials were redeploying troops to the region to "meet any potential threats." Laity said the jailbreak put more militants into the region.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/16/afghan.villages.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText