 Residents of a besieged Afghan city have been urged to evacuate ahead of an army operation against the Taliban. General Sami Sadat, who is leading the battle against the Taliban in the southern province of Helmad, called on the people to leave its capital, Laxargarh as soon as possible. At least 40 civilians have been killed in Laxargarh in the past day amid intense fighting, the UN says. The Taliban are reported to have captured most of the city, but the fighting is continuing and the government forces have vowed not to let it fall into militant hands.