US attacks Taliban frontlines north of Kabul

The United States has launched dozens of new attacks on Taliban frontlines north of Kabul, with several huge explosions reported on the outskirts of the city and on the frontline 30 miles away.

Taliban soldiers responded with anti-aircraft fire, but the US warplanes were out of reach.

Elsewhere today, the US attacked suspected Taliban positions around the city of Kandahar. Today’s raids follow intense fighting around the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif yesterday, with the opposition Northern Alliance claiming to be within days of capturing the city.

Three tribes controlled by rival warlords have joined forces for the attack on Mazar-e-Sharif, which is being aided by constant US carpet-bombing of Taliban positions outside the city.

The Bakhtar news agency reported heavy overnight bombing in the Kishanday district to the south, but added that the Taliban repelled a Northern Alliance offensive in the area.

The opposition said it had captured Kishanday earlier this week, but with the US now bombing the area, those claims were almost certainly exaggerated.

Bakhtar also reported that 22 civilians and four Taliban soldiers were killed in attacks across Afghanistan yesterday.

It said seven people were killed in an attack on a shrine in Kandahar where villagers gather regularly to pray.