NATO Takes Over South Afghan Security

KABUL, Afghanistan - NATO troops assumed command Monday of military operations in volatile southern Afghanistan from the U.S.-led coalition, marking the first time the alliance has conducted land combat operations.

A NATO-led force, made up mostly of British, Canadian and Dutch troops, took over in the south from a U.S.-led anti-terror coalition that was first deployed nearly five years ago to unseat the hardline Taliban regime for harboring Osama bin Laden.

"Today's transfer of authority demonstrates to the Afghan people that there is a strong commitment on the part of the international community to further extend security into the southern region's provinces," Lt. Gen. …