Afghanistan War News Updates -- April 27, 2010

LEAFLET DROP - A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies over some scenic landscape while traveling to the location of a planned leaflet drop in Joghatoe district, Logar province, Afghanistan, April 23, 2010. The leaflets are informing the people of Joghatoe district of an upcoming radio broadcast. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell Gilchrest

Battle For Kandahar Tougher Than Expected -- Time Magazine/AP

(WASHINGTON) — The American-led effort to gain control of southern Afghanistan is off to a slow start and the political clock is ticking as U.S. troops head into what could be the bloodiest fight yet in the eight-year war.

The U.S. and its NATO allies last week set a goal of starting to transfer control of Afghanistan to the central government by the end of the year, and President Barack Obama has said U.S. troops must start leaving in 2011.

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More News On Afghanistan

Key Afghan military operation moves slowly as Washington's political clock ticks -- L.A. Times
In Kandahar, some still see Taliban as lesser of evils -- CNN
British military split over plan to move troops to Kandahar -- The Independent
Q+A - Security worsens in Kandahar ahead of major U.S. assault -- Reuters

Taliban Commander, Advisers Killed in NATO Air Strike in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Air Strike in Afghanistan Kills Senior Insurgents -- U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. training Afghan villagers to fight the Taliban -- Washington Post
Special Forces enlist Afghans to patrol for unrest -- Washington Post (Pictures)
UN scales back after three bomb blasts rock Kandahar City ahead of key Nato campaign -- The Independent
U.N. pulls foreign workers out of Afghan city of Kandahar -- L.A. Times
U.N. shuts mission in Afghanistan's Kandahar -- Yahoo News/Reuters
U.N. keeps Kandahar staffers home after 'threats' -- CNN
Afghan police likely killed U.N. staff by mistake: U.N. -- Washington Post/Reuters
Karzai's Brother Says UN Should Not Leave South -- New York Times/AP
British embassy security chief Bill Shaw jailed for two years over Afghan 'bribe' -- Times Online
Anti-war graffiti group become Afghanistan's 'Talibanksy' -- Yahoo News/AFP
What's Behind the Poisoning of Afghan Girls -- Rawa News
Calling for an Exit Strategy from Afghanistan -- Middle East Online
Afghan crunch time: Obama must decide whether to talk to the Taliban -- Ahmed Rashid, Washington Post