Life is so dear to us

KABUL (Agencies) - US and Afghan troops have abandoned a remote village in eastern Afghanistan where Taliban killed nine American soldiers and wounded a dozen more on Sunday, according to BBC.

A statement said the outpost had been temporary and that "regular patrols" in the area would be maintained. Afghan police are continuing to fight insurgents after the pullout on Tuesday, local officials say.

The attack caused the biggest American loss of life in battle in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001. Nato says the rebels also suffered heavy casualties.

It did not name the attackers but there has been a sharp increase in Taliban attacks in the country, and in that region in particular, although other rebel groups are also known to operate there.

At least 100 - some reports say 200 - insurgents stormed the small combat outpost in the village of Wanat on the border of Nuristan and Kunar provinces on Sunday. Some fighters briefly broke through defences and into the temporary base.

"We are confirming that we have vacated our combat outpost at Wanat," said Nato spokesman Mark Laity.

The outpost had only been constructed days before it was attacked.

Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) announced the camp had now been "disestablished" but said there would be a "continued presence" in the area - namely patrols and the use of Afghan security forces.

Omar Sami Taza, a spokesman for the governor of Nuristan, said US troops had withdrawn from the area, "leaving the district in the hands of only 20 policemen".

"American troops have taken all heavy weapons out of the district," he told the BBC. "This is why we have lost the district to the Taliban because our police couldn't defend it with one AK-47."

However, the local police chief, Hazarat Ali, told the BBC: "Our police are still in the district, the elders are backing us. We have not lost our district."

Laity said the post, which lies amid precipitous mountains close to the Pakistan border, had been vacated, but insisted that international and Afghan troops will "retain a strong presence in that area with patrolling and other means." He could not confirm claims by a government official that the withdrawal had caused Afghan police to lose control over the adjoining Waant-Waygal district in Nuristan province.

"We are committed, now more than ever, to establishing a secure environment that will allow even greater opportunities for development and a stronger Afghan governmental influence," Nato spokesman Capt Mike Finney said.

"When Isaf withdrew yesterday (Tuesday), we couldn't stand up against the Taliban," said Sami.

"We pulled back and the district fell into the Taliban's hand. We will send more troops from the centre to recapture it."

He said the US and Afghan troops took the district mayor with them. He said US troops armed local police with more than 20 guns before they left, but that the officers had fled the village and crossed into neighbouring Kunar province when 100 militants moved into Wanat.