Thousands of refugees flee Kandahar

The United Nations say thousands of refugees have fled Kandahar, as tribal and other opposition fighters press for control of the city.

Waves of US warplanes attacked the southern Afghan city, which Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has vowed to defend to the death.

One Pashtun tribal commander with forces near Kandahar claimed that foreign al-Qaida troops, are stopping Afghan Taliban troops from surrendering.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Peter Kessler estimates 8,000 Afghans have reached the safety of neighbouring Pakistan.

"It would appear that 2,000 people or more are leaving Kandahar province each day and are seeking assistance," Kessler said.

Those who have arrived at the Pakistan border outpost of Chaman speak of chaos and fear in Kandahar as well as on the roads east to Pakistan.

Conditions in and around city are unclear and reports of clashes among rival forces can not be verified.

The Taliban are refusing to allow foreign journalists into the areas they control.

Other refugees have fled north to the capital, Kabul.

US Marines stationed at a desert base about 110 kilometres (70 miles) southwest of Kandahar have not joined the fight since helicopter gunships attacked a Taliban convoy a week ago.