US marines 'target Taleban leader'

Reports from Afghanistan suggest the Americans might be conducting a specific mission to find the leader of the ousted Taleban militia, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

The Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai, is quoted as saying that US marines had embarked on a military operation to that end.

Mr Karzai said he was determined to see Mullah Omar's arrest.

A senior Pentagon official said fairly consistent intelligence suggested the fugitive leader might be hiding near Baghran, in the province of Helmand.

Officials withheld details, saying further comment could endanger those involved.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service