The Afghan Taliban announced the start of its annual spring offensive, warning it would ramp up attacks on foreign embassies and government officials, as well as military targets, starting on Friday. The group has been fighting the Afghan government and its foreign backers since it was ousted from power by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001. "If the foreign occupiers really want to relieve themselves from this nuisance of fighting, they should immediately withdraw," the Taliban said in a statement.