Tribal fighters report possible sighting of bin Laden

Senior tribal commanders believe a man resembling Osama bin Laden has been spotted near the Tora Bora Taliban base.

One senior commander says his men reported seeing the man making a horseback visit to the front line with four deputies.

He is then said to have ridden back to the village of Malaewa after visiting some of his troops.

Commander Haji Kalan Mir's claim came as fighters loyal to bin Laden rained mortar shells, rockets and bullets at tribal fighters from high in the mountains of Afghanistan.

The anti-Taliban fighters attacked them from below and US warplanes bombed them from above.

Jets have been making constant runs over the forested mountains, dropping bombs every two or three minutes. The valley was filled with smoke and dust from the explosions.

Between air strikes, fighters reported spotting the children of Arab fighters playing outside caves high in the mountains.