Hunt 'closing in' on Bin Laden

Bin Laden may be running out of hiding places

The net is closing in on Osama Bin Laden, members of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan said on Sunday.

Reports suggested the hunt for Bin Laden is zeroing in on an area to the east of Kandahar, the Taleban's southern stronghold.

We are going to dig him out of his hole

US Secretary of State Colin Powell

US officials said the Saudi dissident's escape routes are dwindling, while the Taleban's retreat south has lost him hiding places.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said: "I think he's still in Afghanistan. It's getting harder for him to hide as more and more territory is removed from Taleban control.

"We are going to dig him out of his hole," he told US television.

Taleban 'trick'

Northern Alliance leaders said the Taleban were trying to trick the US-led coalition into believing Bin Laden had escaped from Afghanistan in order to avoid more air strikes.

Rather, Northern Alliance leaders said they also believed Bin Laden was hiding near Kandahar.

Younis Qanooni, Northern Alliance interior minister, said: "According to my information, Bin Laden is still in Kandahar province in Maruf, some 130 kilometres east of Kandahar city".

Reward

The BBC's Grant Ferrett, reports that a $25m reward offered for information on Bin Laden is being dangled as a carrot.

We have to recognise that he's an elusive character, but he's on the run and cannot hide forever

Tony Blair's official spokesman

"Those who change sides are questioned on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, and reminded of the $25m reward for information leading to his capture," our correspondent says.

The British government also believes Bin Laden's time is running out.

Asked if the net was closing on al-Qaeda's leader, the British prime minister's official spokesman said: "We have to recognise that he's an elusive character, but he's on the run and cannot hide forever".

British newspaper reported that British and US special forces hunting Bin Laden had surrounded an area of 30 square miles (80 square kilometres) in south-eastern Afghanistan.

Confusing statements

Taleban spokesmen have, wittingly or not, added to the confusion over Bin Laden's whereabouts.

Taleban statements have been confusing

Abdul Salam Zaeef, Taleban ambassador to Pakistan, has said Bin Laden was no longer in Taleban-held territory.

"I don't know where he is, whether he is in other areas of Afghanistan or has left Afghanistan," Zaeef was quoted as saying.

"But I know this much, that he is not in the area under our control."

Confusingly, Mr Zaeef later told reporters at Islamabad airport: "Osama is our guest. We will take care of him until the last moment".

A spokesman for Taleban leader Mola Mohammed Omar said in Kandahar: "It is hard to say whether (Bin Laden) is inside or outside Afghanistan. We cannot be certain about his whereabouts".

The last confirmed sighting of Bin Laden was almost two weeks ago, when he gave an interview to a Pakistani newspaper journalist.