Kabul bombed in heaviest attacks yet

US warplanes have pounded the Afghan capital, Kabul, in the heaviest attacks so far in the so-called "war against terrorism".

The US targeted a Taliban military academy, artillery units and suspected terrorist training camps around Kabul last night, roaming the skies above the war-ravaged city for more than two hours.

The warplanes returned early today, attacking more sites near the airport. In two sorties, the jets fired at least 11 heavy detonation missiles while the Taliban responded with largely futile anti-aircraft fire.

The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press said US jets also attacked the Taliban’s southern stronghold of Kandahar and a Taliban military base at Shamshaad, about four miles from the Pakistani border.

A US official in Washington, meanwhile, said two relatives of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar were killed on Sunday when the attacks in Kandahar began.

A senior Taliban officer was also reportedly killed in strikes near Mazar-e-Sharif in the north.