Hundreds of Taliban fighters have taken over several villages in a district just north of Kandahar City, a local official says.

Mohammad Farooq, the government leader in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, said Monday that about 500 Taliban had moved into what has been considered a relatively peaceful district.

A tribal leader said the militants could easily use the many grape and pomegranate orchards to mount an attack on Kandahar itself, where a brazen attack on a prison last week freed about 400 Taliban fighters.

"All of Arghandab is made of orchards. The militants can easily hide and easily fight," said Haji Ikramullah Khan.

"It's quite close to Kandahar," Khan added. "During the Russian war, the Russians didn't even occupy Arghandab, because when they fought here they suffered big casualties."

Walid Karzai, brother of President Hamid Karzai, told The Canadian Press on Monday that he's also worried the Taliban could mount attacks within Kandahar.

"There are also strong rumours that they will attack Kandahar city at certain strategic points. My house, the governor's house (and) the police station," he said.

"Whenever they get close to Kandahar city, there could be problems. Every one in Kabul is very much concerned," said Karzai, who serves as president of the provincial council.

NATO reaction

NATO spokesperson Mark Laity said NATO and Afghan military officials are sending troops to the district to "meet any potential threats."

Laity seemed to link the jailbreak with the Taliban push into Arghandab.

"It's fair to say that the jailbreak has put a lot of people (rebels) into circulation who weren't there before, and so obviously you're going to respond to that potential threat," he said.

Arghandab used to be the fiefdom of Mullah Naqib, a former Taliban supporter who switched sides in 2001.

The leader of the powerful Alokozai tribe died in October, and there were fears a power vacuum would emerge.

The Taliban did attempt to penetrate the district shortly after Naqib's death, but Canadian and Afghan troops said they pushed them out.

"They will not come back because we know that the Afghan national security forces will hold the ground and secure the Arghandab district for the (betterment) of the local population," Canada's Maj. Eric Landry told reporters in Kandahar on Nov. 1, 2007.

However, new district leader Kareemullah Naqibi, Mullah Naqib's son, had trouble winning the confidence of village elders.

Gen. Dan McNeil, the commander of the International Stabilization and Assistance Force, announced in mid-December 2007 that a forward operating base would be constructed in the district.

The move was seen as a way to shore up support for Naqibi, who is only 25.

Besides Mullah Naqib's death, two other leaders in Arghandab have been killed.

Police commander Abdul Hakim Jan, died in February. He was one of more than 100 people killed by a suicide bombing at a dog fight in Kandahar.

Earlier this month, gunmen shot and killed Malim Akbar Khakrezwal, 55. He was a former mujahedeen leader and a key supporter of Naqibi.

With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press