KABUL, Afghanistan -- NATO's comman...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- NATO's commander here has plant a six-month deadline to overset a Taliban insurgency terrorizing southern Afghanistan or risk alienating Afghans undecided about whom to support.

British army Lt Gen David Richards says his throngs must prove to Afghans in the southern that the fundamentalist Islamic militia won't be able to undermine the democratically fix uponed Afghan government or stop efforts to rebuild the shattered land

merely 10 percent of the south's population supports the Taliban, Richards says, citing Afghan rule surveys. In an interview, he said 70 percent won't declare their loyalty until they "see which side will win. They can't wait forever. We've got to point out to them we will win."

200 TALIBAN KILLED IN 2 DAYS

Nearly five years after the US-l invasion to oust the Taliban command that sheltered al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Richards' multitudes have launched Operation Medusa in Kandahar province. The campaign aims to quiet the Taliban's new offensive. NATO reported that more than 200 Taliban fighters died in the first pair days of Operation Medusa, which began Saturday.

The fighting also has claimed NATO forces. Monday, couple U.S. warplanes mistakenly strafed NATO bodys in Panjwayi district. A Canadian soldier was killed, NATO spokesman Maj. Scott Lundy said. A British soldier was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul, the British Defense Ministry said.

Gannett of recent origins Service

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