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Loud Explosions in Kandahar as US Resumes Attacks Saturday
US-led air forces resumed airstrikes at Kandahar, the stronghold of ruling Taliban of Afghanistan for the sixth consecutive night Saturday, according to reports reaching here.
As jets dropped heavy bombs, loud explosions could be heard around the city where are Taliban positions and training bases. So far no reports of casualties have been received here. Taliban anti- aircraft batteries went into operation.
US-led forces began strikes against Afghanistan last Sunday because it refused to hand over to the United States Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect of the September 11 terrorist attack on US US-led forces began daylight strikes Tuesday.
The United States gave weary Afghans a short break for the Muslim prayer day Friday after a fifth night of bombing brought the Taliban's death toll estimate to nearly 300.
On Thursday, US President George W. Bush said that he would " reconsider" the military attacks if the Taliban handed over bin Laden who is wanted "live or dead."
Rejecting Bush's demand, Taliban chief representative to Pakistan Mullah Abdul Satam Zaeef told the press here Friday that "even if we fulfill all the demands of Bush, he will not stop strikes because his motives are totally different." The US plan was to take control of natural resources in Central Asia and that bin Laden was not the real target, he said.
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