Blair hails success of Afghan War

US warplanes renewed strikes against suspected terrorist hide-outs in eastern Afghanistan, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today that the war against the Taliban and al-Qaida had succeeded beyond anyone’s dreams.

But leading US senators said suspicion was increasing that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden had fled to Pakistan, and Mr Blair acknowledged that victory will not be complete until bin Laden and ousted Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar are captured.