Repairing airport is Marines' aim

SOUTH AFGHANISTAN -- U.S. marines took control today of the heavily damaged airport outside the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, saying they hoped to rebuild it with the help of local contractors.

Marines from Camp Rhino, southwest of Kandahar, rolled through the city overnight on their way to the airport, about 10 miles to the southeast. The soldiers then cut off access to the airport as fellow marines landed there in helicopters, said Maj. Christopher Hughes, a public affairs officer for Task Force 54.