`The Voice of bin Laden` Detected

The U.S. heard the voice of Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora area of eastern Afghanistan on 15th, and intensified its assaults and searching into the caves in the area.

Washington Times reported on 15th that the voice was identified as bin Laden`s known hitherto, which means he is still in a cave of mountainous Tora Bora in eastern Afghan Spin Gar.

And it added from an U.S. high official that the voice of bin Laden, giving orders over a short-range radio and the responses of al-Qaeda fighters to their leader, were detected.

U.S. special forces searched into caves and tunnels in Tora Bora with anti-Taliban fighters following the detected voice signals, and made extensive air raids with B52 bombing planes.

Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Defense Secretary said on 16th, "There were fierce battles and U.S. dropped more than 200 bombs. Anti-Taliban fighters advanced 2km in last two days, and many al-Qaeda fighters were killed and about 50 surrendered. "

The spokesperson of Hazrat Ali, the commander of anti-Taliban forces announced that 33 al-Qaeda fighters from Arab and Chechen were killed and 4 were captured. And the Pakistan government announced that it arrested and imprisoned 31 al-Qaeda fighters who escaped from Tora Bora to the border area.

But AFP announced that main force units of al-Qaeda struck back fiercely and recaptured several hills within those two days.

Meanwhile, U.S. Marines are hurrying to establish a large POW camp in Kandahar Airport, preparing for the large scale surrender and capture of al-Qaeda fighters.

An U.S. officer said, "A prison camp for up to 300 people is under construction, and 19 U.S. Military and private specialists arrived in Kandahar on 14th and are starting a search for atomic and biochemical weapons."

Dae-In Sun eodls@donga.com