1:45 pm
WASHINGTON - Intelligence reports say that Osama bin Laden is apparently in a cave complex surrounded by anti-Taleban fighters and US forces in Afghanistan, CNN reported today, citing US military officials.
"The United States has reason to believe that Osama bin Laden is surrounded by opposition forces and
US forces in a cave complex in Tora Bora," CNN reported.
The United States is hunting bin Laden, whom it blames for masterminding the September 11 attacks on America that killed nearly 3,300 people.
The hills and valleys near the eastern village of Tora Bora are home to networks of caves harbouring an unknown number of al Qaeda fighters.
US aircraft have been blasting the mountain hide-outs of al Qaeda fighters relentlessly in the hunt for bin Laden.
"We think he's in Afghanistan, we are chasing him, he is hiding, he does not want us to know where he is, we are asking everyone we can to help," said Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier on Thursday.
The Afghan Islamic Press said US special forces landed overnight in Tora Bora and that US helicopters had increased their flights between Tora Bora and an airport in Jalalabad.
Rumsfeld said only unconditional surrender was on the table. "This is not a drill where we're making deals," he said.
- REUTERS
Story archives:
War against terrorism
Bioterrorism
Terror in America - the Sept 11 attacks
Links: War against terrorism
Timeline: Major events since the Sept 11 attacks
