The Taleban, who control most of Afghanistan, have said the US-led attacks are an act of terrorism and that the Afghan people will defend "their religion and their honour with sacrifices".
A Taleban spokesman has said that the authorities will free up Osama Bin Laden, whom they are sheltering, to wage a jihad, or holy war. He had previously been barred by the regime from using telephones, fax machines and the internet.
The US-led coalition has increasingly thrown its weight behind the anti-Taleban forces of the Northern Alliance. US forces have carpet bombed Taleban front lines in the hope that the Northern Alliance will launch a ground offensive.
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