Fierce battle rages in Helmand

Kabul : Fierce battles were underway on Tuesday between Afghan forces and the Taliban in southern Helmand province where the insurgents have almost completely captured a strategic district as Britain deployed military advisers to the restive area.

The development came a day after a Taliban suicide bomber killed six US troops near a Kabul base, the deadliest attack on Americans in the country since August. A British Ministry of Defence statement said that "a small number of UK personnel" have been deployed to Helmand "in an advisory role.

" The UK has 450 troops in Afghanistan as part of NATO's training mission. The Afghans were also sending reinforcements to Helmand, officials said.