Afghan troops regained the control of a district in the southern Helmand province, a statement of Afghan Defense Ministry said Sunday.

An Afghan stained with blood leaves the site of the suicide bomb attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2009.[Xinhua]

"Nawzad was liberated from the clutch of rebels at 02:00 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) today and the national flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was hoisted there," the brief statement said.

Early last month troops had restored government control in Khanshin district.

Over ten districts are said to be out of government control in the militancy-hit southern region.

Afghan men hold posters of Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai during an election rally in support of Karzai, who is seeking a second term in the country's upcoming presidential election, in Kandahar province August 16, 2009.[Xinhua]

The Afghan government with the support of international forces has decided to restore government authorities in all districts and areas held by Taliban insurgents ahead of the Aug. 20 elections.

An ethnic Afghan Hazara girl helps her brother hold an image of Afghan President Hamid Karzai after supporters dropped posters and postcards from vehicles on the outskirts of Bamiyan, located in central Afghanistan August 15, 2009. Afghanistan is scheduled to hold it's presidential elections on August 20.[Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2009)