NATO gives security to Afghans in eastern capital

[July 19, 2011]  MEHTERLAM, Afghanistan (AP) -- A coalition official says Afghan forces have taken over responsibility for security in the capital of an eastern province.

Gen. James Bucknall, deputy commander of coalition forces, says Tuesday's handover of the capital of predominantly Pashtun Laghman province is a powerful signal to insurgents that progress is being made in Afghanistan. Mehterlam is one of seven areas that will transition to the Afghan government this month.

It is the first phase of a three-and-a-half year plan that will eventually see the entire country under Afghan control by the end of 2014, when all American and other foreign combat forces are to withdraw.

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THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.
AP's earlier story is below.

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- An Afghan official says seven police officers have been poisoned and shot dead at a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan.

Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand province, said Tuesday that the policemen were killed on Monday by one of their colleagues near Lashkar Gah. The city is slated to transition to Afghan-led security this month.

Ahmadi says the assailant escaped in a police vehicle loaded with weapons from the checkpoint.

Waheed Omar, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai, said Monday that militants are launching attacks in the seven transition areas to try to disrupt the process for Afghan security forces to take charge by the end of 2014.

He argues that insurgents have been driven out of their strongholds and that their intimidation campaign does not mean they are powerful.

[Associated Press]

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