The Taliban said it detonated a bomb on a fuel tanker today and then opened fire on other Nato supply trucks, destroying 22 vehicles loaded with fuel and other goods for US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan.

A Taliban source has confirmed that opposition forces have entered Mazar-e-Sharif.

Afghan opposition forces claim they have broken though Taliban defences around Mazar-e-Sharif and have entered the key city.

Christian Aid says 600 people died in northern Afghanistan in the weeks before the bombing campaign.

There are reports that the US has admitted losing an unmanned spy plane over Afghanistan.