Fears were growing tonight that Osama bin Laden may have eluded the coalition and tribal forces which successfully laid siege to the last remaining al-Qaida stronghold in Afghanistan.

British special forces moved into the Tora Bora front line today after a ceasefire collapsed at Osama bin Laden’s mountain base.

Al-Qaida fighters holding out in the terror gang’s final Afghan stronghold are facing an ultimatum to surrender or be annihilated.

A US B-52 aircraft has bombed the Tora Bora area after cornered al-Qaida forces ignored a surrender deadline set by the opposing tribal eastern alliance.

Anti-Taliban tribal warlords in eastern Afghanistan have declared a ceasefire in their battle with

US Secretary of State Colin Powell today sparked confusion over the role British forces might play in a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.

Evidence is growing that Osama bin Laden is hiding in the White Mountains south of Jalalabad.

Hundreds of anti-Taliban troops have been battling with Osama bin Laden's fighters near mountain hideouts.