Afghan warlords face off on front line

By Amir ShahHUNDREDS of rival militiamen with tanks and artillery faced off along a narrow front line in northern Afghanistan yesterday, as the government scrambled to stop what it described as the worst fighting in months.

Clashes broke out yesterday about 30 miles west of Mazar-e-Sharif and the town of Maimana. One warring side said the death toll was 60, while the other said it was much lower.

The UN said there were "high numbers of casualties".