Military

DATE= 12/12/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-284082

TITLE= AFGHAN FIGHTING (L)

BYLINE=LARRY JAMES

DATELINE=KABUL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Anti-Taleban forces, backed by U-S bombers, are continuing their battle against al-Qaida fighters around a maze of caves in eastern Afghanistan, as the search continues for Osama bin Laden. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid has started flowing into the north of the country from neighboring Uzbekistan, following Sunday's reopening of the bridge between the two countries. Larry James has the latest in this report from Kabul.

TEXT: Al Qaida fighters near Tora Bora are reported to be putting up stiff resistance as the operation to dislodge them from their mountain stronghold continues. U-S officials say the operation is making moderate progress as anti-Taleban forces on the ground push forward on several fronts. The American military is still not sure where al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is, but officials believe they have a general idea.

In the southern part of the country, Afghanistan's new interim leader, Hamid Karzai, has settled a dispute between tribal chiefs over who will control Kandahar, which the Taleban surrendered Friday.

Under the agreement, Kandahar's pre-Taleban governor, Gul Agha, will resume his position. He will be assisted by Mullah Naqibullah, who accepted the Taleban's surrender.

Pentagon officials says U-S Marines are having success in preventing armed Taleban and al-Qaida fighters from fleeing southern Afghanistan into neighboring Pakistan.

Here in the capital, Kabul, elements of a 17-member United Nations advance team are at work planning the deployment of a multi-national security force to maintain peace. The various Afghan factions agreed to the force in talks last week in Germany.

And, in the far north of the country, a train carrying a thousand tons of vital humanitarian relief has crossed into northern Afghanistan from neighboring Uzbekistan, using a bridge opened for the first time since 1997.

Sunday's rail shipment across the Friendship Bridge contained flour and other urgently-needed supplies. Afghans displaced by recent fighting are facing cold, hunger and disease after more than two decades of war and years of severe drought.

Uzbekistan sealed the border shortly after the Taleban seized power in Afghanistan in 1996.

Uzbekistan agreed to re-open the Friendship Bridge after talks in Tashkent (on Saturday) between President Islam Karimov and Secretary of State Colin Powell. (signed)

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