Troops mass for final assault on Bin Laden's men

Hundreds of US and allied Afghan fighters swept into the mountains of eastern Afghanistan today, moving tanks into position for a final push to eradicate al-Qaida fighters making a last stand.

High-flying US B-1 bombers pounded the remaining al-Qaida and Taliban positions on a ridgeline that US officers dubbed ‘‘the whale’’ in the snowcapped Shah-e-Kot mountains. US Special Forces troops were seen moving nearby as clouds of dark smoke rose from the scene of the explosions.