In the mountains north of Kandahar, in Zabul and Uruzgan, the birthplace of the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, government troops and American Special Forces have cornered most of the 200-300 Taliban gunmen who have been rampaging through the region for the past two weeks. At least four Taliban were killed today.. 

Germany has agreed to send 250 troops to the northern city of  Kunduz, which has been the scene of many clashes between rival warlord fighters.