Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers walk past the loading bay of an aircraft at Kabul military airport as they prepare to fly to Kandahar. Thousands of residents fled villages near Kandahar as Taliban militants blew up bridges on Tuesday ahead of a looming offensive by Afghan and NATO troops, officials and locals said.

(CCTV06-18-2008)The Afghan army has sent four planes carrying troops to counter Taliban activities near the city of Kandahar. Canadian forces also moved into the region on Tuesday.

Local officials say Taliban militants have destroyed bridges and planted mines in several villages outside Kandahar, southern Afghanistan's largest city. More than 700 families have fled the district. Afghan troops are searching every person passing a checkpoint on the east side of the Arghandab River.

At a news conference in Kabul, the presidential spokesman says the Afghan army is in charge of the situation, and is set to launch a military operation against the Taliban.

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