MARJAH, Afghanistan — U.S.-led forces control the main roads and markets in the besieged Taliban stronghold of Marjah, a Marine general said today, even as fighting raged elsewhere in the southern farming town.

Marines and Afghan soldiers encountered better-fortified Taliban positions and more skilled marksmen on the sixth day of the assault, indicating Taliban resistance in their logistics and opium-smuggling center was far from crushed.

A British general said he expected it would take another month to secure the town.

NATO said four service members died today, bringing the number of allied troops killed in the offensive to nine NATO troops and one Afghan soldier. The international coalition did not disclose their nationalities, but Britain's Defense Ministry said a British soldier was injured today in an explosion and later died of his wounds.