British general says no casualties in offensive

(AP) — The British commander of the massive force of American, British and Afghan soldiers hammering at Taliban insurgents in the strategic south Afghanistan town of Marjah says his troops have made substantial progress without any casualties.

Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, commander of the coalition force's Regional Command-South, said early Saturday that the combined units, aided by more than 60 helicopters, made a "successful insertion" into Marjah between 3 p.m. Friday and dawn Saturday.

Carter, in a briefing to reporters broadcast from Afghanistan, said the operation went without a hitch.

Carter says the coalition offensive was "personally endorsed and sanctioned" by Afghan President Hamid Karzai during consultations the day before troops went on the move.