<

Troops Find al-Qaida Caves, Weapons
Thursday, May 9, 2002
By Todd Pitman
Associated Press Writer

Intelligence reports had indicated activity in one of the caves recently, and troops found munitions that were left outside it, said Brig. Roger Lane, but he gave no other details. He said it was an area in which warlords had "demilitarized" to ease local tensions. It was the first time the location of the British search, which began last week under the code name Operation Snipe, has been disclosed, and it is new terrain for coalition forces, south of previous searches.

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- AP
Coalition forces have found more caves - and ammunition caches - of al-Qaida and Taliban fighters.

A senior British commander said Thursday that the discovery is a new success for the U.S.-led search that is spreading south from a rugged area southeast of Kabul.

The find came as German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder visited Kabul to show support for the interim government of Prime Minister Hamid Karzai. But a rocket attack on the airport in Jalalabad east of Kabul underscored how factional fighting still threatens efforts to bring stability to the country after 23 years of war.

Four caves filled with anti-tank and anti-aircraft ammunition were discovered by a British-led 1,000-man force that has been advancing across a mountainous area in Paktika province, said Brig. Roger Lane.

Residents said the series of cave complexes had been used by al-Qaida and Taliban fighters.

Lane said the caves, each about 7 feet high and 30 feet deep, were behind padlocked, metal doors. Bomb disposal experts were checking for booby-traps before British troops enter them.
(More: TheState.com News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

I think we call that “in plain sight.”

Dan