A provincial military chief near the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad has said that up to 100 civilians have been killed and 200 wounded in three nights of US airstrikes.
The commander, an anti-Taliban Pashtun, said that the bombs targeted an area south of Jalalabad, near the Tora Bora mountain cave complex, where Osama bin Laden is believed to have a hideout.
In a further development, tribal forces in southern Afghanistan are claiming they are closing in on the Taliban held city of Kandahar. They say that they have entered the city's airport, some 20 kilometres from the city, and are engaged in a battle for the main terminal.
Meanwhile, it is reported that US special forces have landed in Jalalabad. The Afghan Islamic Press said that the troops were in an area where the Americans believe bin Laden might be hiding.
