US President George Bush has rebuffed recommendations from a growing number of retired generals that he replace Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. “He has my full support,” said Bush.

The US air assault on an Afghan village that residents say killed 44 civilians was part of a larger operation targeting Taliban fighters, Pentagon officials said.

Taliban forces battled advancing opposition fighters outside the key city of Mazar-e-Sharif today, fighting to keep control of the northern base.