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The New York Times reported hundreds of Taliban fighters had infiltrated 18 villages in the province's Arghandab district, laying mines and digging trenches in preparation for a battle with NATO and Afghan government troops. Similar reports were issued by other media outlets, including CNN and Voice of America, which reported thousands of residents were fleeing in anticipation of looming battle.

But Afghan police officials said reports of Taliban extremists seizing control of several villages in Kandahar province are unfounded. The Afghan National Police and western coalition forces said Tuesday they encountered no resistance while performing patrols in the province's Arghandab district, which is near a prison from which 400 Taliban prisoners escaped last week.

"The patrol found no evidence that militants have overwhelming strength in the Arghandab area", the officials said in a news release.

A spokesman with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, however, told CNN an anti-Taliban operation would be led by Afghan police and military.

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