Afghan officials say Taliban militants are destroying bridges and planting mines in several villages they control outside southern Afghanistan's largest city. Police officer Sardah Mohammad says more than 700 families _ meaning perhaps 4, 000 people or more _ have fled the Arghandab district, 10 miles (15 kilometers) northwest of Kandahar city. Police on Tuesday were stopping and searching every person traveling on the east side of the Arghandab River, the Associated Press reported. Officials say that hundreds of Taliban have taken over several villages on the west side of the river. Mohammad says the militants are preparing for battle by destroying bridges and planting mines. Afghan army officials said they were flying reinforcements to Kandahar from the capital, Kabul.
