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Battle continues for Kandahar
Afghan tribesmen, backed by US airstrikes, on Saturday pushed on toward Kandahar, the Taliban`s last major stronghold and spiritual home.
Afghan tribesmen, backed by US airstrikes, pushed on toward Kandahar, the Taliban`s last major stronghold and spiritual home.
Hundreds of U.S. troops remained on alert at a nearby desert base on Saturday.
In Washington, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "This fight will continue until Kandahar is, in fact, a free city, as is the rest of Afghanistan."
In recent weeks, the Taliban fled other Afghan cities further north when challenged by opposition forces. And, tribal forces near Kandahar said they had captured dozens of Taliban fighters who surrendered despite orders by their leaders to fight to the death.
However, it is far from certain that Kandahar will also fall quickly.
In Washington, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "This fight will continue until Kandahar is, in fact, a free city, as is the rest of Afghanistan."
In recent weeks, the Taliban fled other Afghan cities further north when challenged by opposition forces. And, tribal forces near Kandahar said they had captured dozens of Taliban fighters who surrendered despite orders by their leaders to fight to the death.
However, it is far from certain that Kandahar will also fall quickly.
One tribal figure, Mohammed Anwar, said 300 Arab fighters loyal to prime
terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden`s al-Qaida movement might be moving through
the region and could counterattack.
Pace said some Pashtun tribal leaders were trying to convince the Taliban to
surrender Kandahar. But U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stressed that
Washington won`t accept any capitulation deal that gives amnesty or safe passage
to al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, including the Islamic militia`s supreme
commander, Mullah Mohammed Omar.
Bureau Report