A US military CH53 helicopter drops a box of supplies as it lands at the Marine base of Cop Coutu in the area of Karez-e-Sayyidi in the outskirts of Marjah district, Helmand province, May 7, 2010. [Agencies]

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan: The Taliban say they will launch new attacks this coming week against "foreigners and their surrogates" across Afghanistan.

An increase in violence is typical in spring as mountainous Afghanistan has particularly harsh winters.

A crucial test of the nine-year war is coming this summer, when a US-led military operation tries to clear the Taliban from a key southern city.

President Hamid Karzai said in a US newspaper column that international forces have yet to secure much of Afghanistan. He heads to Washington on Monday.

Afghan police officers shoot with their pistols while training with Canadian police instructors at a range in Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar City, May 8, 2010. [Agencies]