<br/>Afghan President Hamid Karzai has renewed his call for the Taliban to accept peace and join with the government. During his speech at the opening session of the Afghan parliament in Kabul yesterday, Mr. Karzai also urged international troops to prevent civilian deaths.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the NATO military alliance continued its offensive in the town of Marjah, a Taliban stronghold in the southern Helmand province. Officials say two civilians were killed in the province yesterday when their motorbike was hit by a roadside bomb. At least 16 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the U.S.-led NATO offensive in the area. Afghan police have begun moving into Marjah to take civilian control of the portions of the town freed from insurgents.<br/><br/>Some 400 Afghan police officers were dispatched on Friday. U.S.-led forces say they are now in control of the main roads and markets in Marjah. But a NATO commander says it will take a month to remove pockets of strong resistance and to secure the area.