CHAGHCHARAN, June 24: Some 600 Afghan soldiers were deployed on Thursday to halt factional violence in the country's northwest that has added to nation wide security fears as Afghanistan heads for landmark polls.

The Afghan National Army troops have been dispatched to Chaghcharan, the capital of mountainous Ghor province, and its airport, following an outbreak of fighting last week, General Aminullah Patiani said.

"The fourth ANA batallion - counting about 600 men - was deployed this morning to Chaghcharan and its environs," after arriving from the main western city of Herat by road, Patiani said.

"They are now patrolling in the city, they have taken positions in public buildings, notably the government as well as the airport." Five people died in last week's clashes between rival militias - in theory both under the authority of the Afghan defence ministry - which saw one commander's men take control of the city, 360 kilometres west of Kabul.

This is the third time since March that the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai has despatched troops from the newly-formed national army to combat factional fighting in the north.

With much of Afghanistan under the control of warlords and commanders the national army, comprising different ethnic groups, has appeared to allow Karzai's administration to extend its influence beyond the capital.

But fears remain that efforts to stage already heavily delayed general elections, now slated for later in the year, will be affected by the violence at a time when Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters continue to mount attacks. Patiani said Karzai had ordered him to "deal" with anyone resisting the soldiers.

"We have met with no resistance, there have been no incidents," General Patiani said. "But we have the means to face those who oppose our arrival." Formed in May 2002, the national army is being trained by US soldiers and accompanies the US-led coalition force fighting Taliban and other militants on most operations.

Security in poverty-stricken Chaghcharan was back to normal on Thursday, but hundreds of militiamen, loyal to ousted militia commander Ahmad Khan, remained in neighbouring districts, according to Ghor governor Mohammad Ibrahim Malakzad.

"We will have peace and security only when these militiamen are disarmed," said the governor who left his office during last week's fighting. Patiani said the troops, who are accompanied by their "embedded" American military trainers, will extend their operations around the province.

"We will move into the districts but slowly," the general said. A government delegation, headed by one of Karzai's advisors Taj Mohammad Wardak, is also in Chaghcharan to try force the rival commanders to negotiate.

"There is a lack of confidence between the commanders - we are working to make them to trust each other," Wardak said. Tired of fighting and the rule of militia commanders sometimes involved in extortion, Chaghcharan residents offered a warm welcome to the troops when they appeared on the dusty roads of the town.

"Thanks God they came - we want them to stay and disarm all those gun-lords who are feeding from the bloods of innocent people," said high school student Ahmad Shah. "We are very happy that our national army came to our province," said fellow resident Mohammad Nader. -AFP