Hundreds of civilians flee Musa Qala

NATO's long-awaited attempt to retake Musa Qala district in Helmand province is under way:

LASHKARGAH, 6 December 2007 (IRIN) - Hundreds of people have left their homes in Musa Qala District, Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, after Afghan and international forces intensified their joint military operations to drive Taliban insurgents out of the district, according to local residents and provincial officials.

“Hundreds of startled locals have fled to nearby Sangeen and Garamsir districts,” said Ahmad Shah, a resident of Musa Qala. (link)

Less than a quarter of Dutch support Afghanistan mission extension

While the Netherlands recently extended its military mission in Afghanistan until 2010, a recent poll reveals that the war has very little domestic support:

Do you agree or disagree with the decision to extend the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan until August 2010?

Agree: 24%
Disagree: 43%
Neutral: 31%
Not sure: 2%

Source: TNS Nipo / RTL Methodology: Telephone interviews with 531 Dutch adults, conducted on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2007. No margin of error was provided. (link)