Taliban prepare for spring offensive in Afghan south

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan, Feb 11 (Reuters) Taliban fighters are continuing to reinforce a key southern town against an expected NATO offensive more than a week after taking it over, ending a controversial four month truce.

More than 1,500 villagers have fled the town of Musa Qala, in the Taliban heartland, in fear of renewed fighting.

''More than 300 fighters are in Musa Qala,'' senior Taliban commander Mulla Hayatullah Khan told Reuters from a secret base today.

''They have been alerted and military supplies are being provided from other areas.'' Residents say the Taliban are reinforcing their troops with heavy weapons, but NATO says there is no evidence of force build-up.

The Taliban regularly over-run major centres, but rarely hold them for more than a day or two. This is one of the longest times a key town has been held.

NATO, the United States and the Taliban warn of a major offensive when the snows melt in a few months, after the bloodiest year since the strict Islamists were ousted in 2001 in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States.

More than 4,000 people died last year a quarter of them civilians and more than 170 of them foreign soldiers, mainly Americans, Britons and Canadians who bear the brunt of the fighting in the rebels' southern heartland.

British troops withdrew from Musa Qala four months ago after a peace deal with local tribal elders to keep the Taliban out.

The deal was both much vaunted as an innovative solution and much criticised as caving in to the rebels.

The Taliban decided to take Musa Qala after the brother of the local Taliban commander was killed in a NATO airstrike, locals say.

The commander, Mullah Ghafour, was himself killed in another airstrike soon after the takeover.

''Our control over the district shows the weakness of US-led NATO forces and we won't hesitate to send more troops and arms to the area if it is needed,'' Khan said.

Residents say as many as 1,500 families have fled, fearing a coming showdown.

''Very few families are left here while Taliban fighters have spread all around the district headquarters,'' said resident Ashrafuddin by phone.

Another resident Haji Abdullah Jan said: ''They (the Taliban) are digging trenches and laying landmines and that shows there will be a conflict.'' NATO says the retaking of Musa Qala is up to the Afghan government and will be done when and how Kabul decides. However, military analysts say the assault will be led by foreign troops and officers.

REUTERS SY KN1641