US officials say situation still unclear in Tora Bora

American and Afghan forces are making slow but steady progress in gaining control of the Tora Bora area according to the US war commander for Afghanistan.

Tribal fighters say they have taken the last al-Qaida positions but Army General Tommy Franks warned there is still work to do.

"They are making progress, but I think it's accurate to say that it's going to be a while before we have the area of Tora Bora fully under control," Franks said.

"It's physically a matter of digging out the al-Qaida from these caves and tunnels. ... It's a matter of inching our way forward up the sides of these canyons and physically going into each one of these bunkers and caves," Franks said.

Bin Laden's whereabouts were uncertain, Franks said. He noted that US officials have been trying to monitor radio transmissions that may or may not contain bin Laden's voice.

"We're not sure whether it's UBL (Osama bin Laden) or not. ... When one listens to these radio transmissions, is that the voice of UBL or is it not? ... Is it really true that bin Laden is in Pakistan? We simply don't know right now," Franks said.