An atmosphere of terror is descending on the southern Afghan province of Kandahar ahead of a major U.S. military effort to take on the Taliban in their stronghold, according to a report received here. Ahmad Wali Karzai, Kandahar provincial council leader and brother of the Afghan president, told the U.N.'s humanitarian news agency IRIN that Kandahar was descending into chaos."People are breathing terror here," he said. The Taliban in Afghanistan announced during the weekend that they would mark Afghan government officials and their foreign backers for assassination. State and pro-government leader have been marked for death in recent months, with several high-profile figures assassinated by insurgents. Tribal elders in the southern provinces said the atmosphere in Afghanistan is similar to the chaos that followed the retreat of Soviet forces in 1979. Meanwhile, U.N. agencies said they have evidence that suggests teenage insurgents are descending on Kandahar to take on U.S. and international forces, who are planning to the do a military operation like theb one in the neighbouring Helmand province. Wali Karzai added that more U.N. support was needed to help the Kandahar government respond to humanitarian needs.