NATO takes Taliban stronghold

After four days of clashes with Taliban militants in Southern Afghanistan, NATO and Afghan troops have taken control of the regional centre, Sangin. The troops used helicopters, armoured vehicles and infantry in their advance on the town.

They also captured several Taliban extremists and found a number of large weapon caches.

The operation to regain control of Sangin started late on Wednesday and is part of NATO's largest ever offensive in Afghanistan.

The town of Sangin, long held by the Taliban, was one of the major extremists' strongholds in the world's biggest opium-producing province of Helmand