[iwar] [fc:News.blackout.on.Afghan.battle]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2002-05-17 20:04:46


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Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 20:04:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [iwar] [fc:News.blackout.on.Afghan.battle]
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Friday, 17 May, 2002, 18:49 GMT 19:49 UK
News blackout on Afghan battle
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1994000/1994496.st
m
British troops are operating on the ground

Military commanders in Afghanistan have put a virtual news blackout on a
coalition operation against suspected Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters in the
eastern Paktia province.

British and US forces have joined Australian troops who came under attack on
Thursday from suspected Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters in south-eastern
Afghanistan. 

 
The BBC's Paul Adams who is at Bagram airbase says the military is remaining
tight-lipped on the progress of the operation, codenamed Condor, but that
helicopter gunships and A-10 tank busters were flying in and out of the base
all day. 

There have been some local reports that the fighting may have been triggered
by Australian forces blundering into a dispute among local tribesmen.

Enemy contact 

Speaking about Thursday's fighting, Brigadier Roger Lane, the top British
commander in Afghanistan, said the Australian troops battled a "substantial
force". 


"I can confirm that the coalition has made contact with the enemy and that
some have been killed," he said.

Brigadier Lane added that no coalition casualties had been reported.

He said the fighting was taking place in a mountainous area at an altitude
of 2,400 metres (8,000 feet), but declined to be more specific.

Our correspondent has been told that British troops are on the ground,
American aircraft are providing cover, and that the mission is expected to
last a few days. 

Military blunder? 

There have been some reports from the area where Operation Condor is taking
place that the Australian forces may have blundered into a dispute among
local tribesmen - a suggestion a British spokesmen could not rule out.

Our correspondent says the operation could still prove a success or an
embarrassment. 

 
The hunt for al-Qaeda fighters is concentrating in mountainous areas


In recent days, the US-led coalition has been stepping up its search in
eastern Afghanistan for al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters.

The fighters are thought to have dispersed into small groups and blended in
with local residents or fled across the border to neighbouring Pakistan.

Coalition troops had reported no enemy contact for several weeks.

On Monday, British-led forces ended a two-week search operation in eastern
Afghanistan saying they had dealt a "significant blow" to al-Qaeda's ability
to mount future strikes by blowing up a big ammunition dump located in
several caves in Paktia province.

That operation involved about 1,000 British and Afghan troops and was backed
by American air support and special forces.


Illness spreads 

However, a local anti-Taleban commander later cast doubt on the British
account of the operation, saying the arms no longer belonged to al-Qaeda and
were being held in reserve for Afghanistan's future army.

Meanwhile, the mystery illness which has affected British army medical
workers in Afghanistan has now spread to operational staff.

A further 22 cases have been reported, all from outside the original group
of three-hundred still under quarantine.

The illness, which causes vomiting and stomach pain, broke out earlier this
week at a field hospital at the Bagram air base.

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