US hits Afghan targets

The United States and Britain have launched a series of strikes by warplanes and cruise missiles against targets in Afghanistan.

Fifteen bombers, 25 strike aircraft and 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles were deployed as the US hit back 26 days after the suicide attacks in New York and Washington.

The Taleban regime's air defences and command centres were the main targets as US President George W Bush told the nation: "The battle is now joined on many fronts... we will not falter and we will not fail."

Hardware in action

50 Tomahawk cruise missiles

500lb gravity bombs

B-1 Lancers

B-2/B-52 stealth bombers

USS Carl Vinson

USS Enterprise

The Afghan capital, Kabul, was raided at least twice, with American planes bombing the airport and plunging the city into darkness.

There were further reports of aircraft in action over Kabul for a third time as dawn approached.

The Taleban stronghold of Kandahar and the eastern city of Jalalabad have each been hit at least twice since the operation began late in the evening local time.

The attacks worked liked "a finely-oiled machine," said a US B-52 bomber pilot.

The action followed warnings from US officials that time was running out for the Taleban to hand over the Saudi-born militant, Osama Bin Laden, who is accused of organising the 11 September suicide attacks that killed more than 5,000 people.

In other developments:

• US citizens in Indonesia are advised to stay indoors and be prepared for possible evacuation amid threats from hardline Muslims
• The FBI puts law enforcement agencies on the highest state of alert across the US
• The main target of the attacks, Saudi-born militant Osama Bin Laden makes a defiant statement - possibly before the attacks - saying the US was "filled with fear from north to south, east to west"
• 
  

  US warplanes launched from carriers in the Gulf
  
  The US closes its embassy in Saudi Arabia until further notice following the attacks
• Iraqi President Saddam Hussein condemns the "aggression" against Afghanistan
• Afghan King Zahir Shah recognises the "legitimate right" of Washington to pursue terrorists
• The US State Department orders increased security at all its embassies

The opposition Northern Alliance said "terrorist" camps at Jalalabad and the Taleban airbase at Kunduz were struck in the raids, as was the airport at Mazar-e-Sharif.

The Taleban said Osama Bin Laden and Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar were unhurt amid reports of several casualties in Kabul. Afghan Taleban radio stopped broadcasting when the attacks began, but is now back on air.

Timeline

1625 GMT - First reports of attacks north of Kabul, then explosions in Kabul

1655 -Targets in Kandahar, Jalalabad and Mazar-e-Sharif come under attack

1834 - Taleban ambassador to Pakistan says Osama Bin Laden and Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar survived attacks

2020 - Fighting reported between Taleban militia and residents of the southeast town of Zarandj near the Iranian border

2105 - Second round of attacks launched five hours after first

2250 - Third round of attacks on Kabul

Heavy fighting is also said to have broken out between Northern Alliance and Taleban forces north of Kabul.

Iranian news agency IRNA reported that fighting had broken out in the border town of Zaranj between local people and Taleban supporters.

The agency says anti-Taleban forces based just across the border in Iran have begun to move towards the town.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said many other operations would follow, some not so visible and the overnight action was just the early stage of combat.

In his earlier address to the nation, President Bush said the Taleban would "pay the price" for sheltering terrorists.

"In this conflict there is no neutral ground, there can be no peace in a world of terror," he said. "We did not ask for this mission but we will fulfil it."

He added that the operation would be accompanied by deliveries of food, medicine and other supplies to the people of Afghanistan.

US forces later air-dropped relief to Afghanistan, including 37,500 ration packs.

Exodus of refugees

Mr Bush has tried to obtain support from as wide a coalition of nations as possible for his war against terrorism.

The Pakistani leader, General Pervez Musharraf, was among those offering full support, but he has faced considerable opposition at home from those opposed to any US military action.

Rumours of possible strikes have led to a major exodus of refugees from Afghanistan.

Pakistan and Iran earlier agreed to open their borders to receive refugees from Afghanistan in the event of strikes.