AMERICANS HAVE LANDED NEAR KANDAHAR

1,200 American marines, who started to land near Kandahar on Monday morning, will create a base on the local aerodrome for actions in the south of Afghanistan for a long period of time, reported Washington Post on Monday, referring to officials from the US Defence Department. According to the newspaper's data, with time, the number of the landed marines can increase to 2,000. In accordance with the operational plan, the landing of the marines from the ships in the Arabian Sea onto the bases in Pakistan and then transferred to Kandahar must be completed by the evening on Tuesday, local time. Washington Times reports that the two expeditionary units of the US marines, who were on two ships in the Arabian Sea and were specially united into one brigade for landing in Afghanistan, amount to 2,200 men. They have at their disposal 31 light armoured personnel carriers, mine launching and anti-tank units, six self-propelled guns, four M-1-A tanks. Apart from that, they are supported by combat helicopters and Harrier planes.