Allies primed for assault

Ready and waiting on the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier

Western leaders say military, diplomatic and humanitarian preparations are falling into place for any attack on Osama Bin Laden and Afghanistan's ruling Taleban, nearly a month after the plane attacks on the US.

President Bush gave the Taleban a stern warning

US troops and aircraft have been arriving in the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, which borders Afghanistan, and American aircraft carriers are in the Gulf.

Several countries in the region have agreed to give the US overflying rights and Britain has a large military presence in the region because of exercises in Oman.

In Geneva, donor governments promised more than $600m in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

It has also been announced that Pakistan and Iran have agreed to open their borders to receive refugees from Afghanistan in the event of strikes by American-led forces.

And the US has hinted that any military action could be linked to airdrops of aid supplies to the Afghan people.

In other developments:

• The Taleban say they are sending thousands of troops to Uzbekistan border
• G7 finance ministers pledge tighter laws to track down funds used to further international terrorism
• Donor countries pledge more than $600m for humanitarian needs in Afghanistan
• The Taleban says that Sunday Express journalist Yvonne Ridley will be freed over the weekend
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  The Taleban have been accused of terrorising their own people
  
  The Taleban also offer to release eight international aid workers accused of promoting Christianity in Afghanistan if the US end threats of military action
• UK Prime Minister Tony Blair ends talks in India vowing that action to isolate the Taleban will continue until the perpetrators of the suicide attacks on the US are brought to justice
• The UN General Assembly ends a week-long debate with a call for all states that have not ratified existing anti-terrorism conventions to do so urgently

Some in the West argue that the Taleban is now so weakened that it will collapse eventually of its own accord.

RAF forces are in Oman on exercise

But that is not an argument that the allies will concede.

US President George W Bush warned Taleban rulers in Afghanistan on Saturday that time is running out for them to hand over Osama Bin Laden - the man the Americans blame for the attacks on New York and Washington.

He said the Taleban had made Afghanistan a sanctuary for international terrorists, while terrorising their own people, and a heavy price would now be exacted.

He was speaking after a lightning tour of the Middle East and Central Asia by his Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, and visits to Russia, Pakistan and India by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

(Click here to see military picture)

Mr Blair said the international coalition against terrorism was now ready to act.

American officials have also held talks with the exiled former Afghan king, Zahir Shah, who in turn has reached agreement with the opposition Northern Alliance.