Afghan mountain hunt for al-Qaida

In a new hunt for al-Qaida suspects, hundreds of Afghan and American soldiers today searched caves and forests in a mountainous region that borders Pakistan, where government troops also were preparing a crackdown.

The operation began Friday in Spera, a border district in Khost province, 90 miles south of Kabul, Afghan military commander Zakim Khan said. No arrests or clashes were reported.