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U.S. Bombing 'Kills' Taleban Chief
Wednesday, November 7, 2001
(20:28 GMT)
The BBC

There has been fierce fighting in the area for days.
Photo Credit: The Associated Press.

If the Northern Alliance won control of the area it could become a bridge-head for US ground forces.

Opposition forces in Afghanistan say a key Taleban commander has been killed in American bombing raids near the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

Northern Alliance commanders are jubilant about what they say is the death of the commander, Gulgarai, and about 48 Pakistani militants, reports BBC Afghanistan correspondent Kate Clark.

Earlier, Northern Alliance forces said they were advancing towards Mazar-e-Sharif after heavy US bombing helped weaken Taleban defences.

They said their troops had entered the district of Sholgera, about 60 km (36 miles) south-west of the city.

The Taleban have yet to comment on the commander's reported death.
(More: BBC News Source)
2001 © The British Broadcasting Corporation.

Dan