World News 11-12-2001 Cave Bombing Forces al-Qa`eda Out Of Hiding who: Al-Qa`eda Soldiers what: Forced from Tora Bora cave hideouts after latest US incursions where: Kandahar when: Yesterday snippet: "Anti-Taleban fighters claim that they have forced al-Qa`eda followers out of their Tora Bora cave hideouts," reports the Telegraph in the wake of massive bombardment of the cave network by US forces yesterday. The US yesterday dropped a 15,000lb "daisy cutter" bomb on a cave in which al-Qa`eda forces were believed to be hiding, says the Guardian`s Rory McCarthy. "The bomb, the third of its kind to be dropped in the course of the campaign, was intended to kill those inside and render the cave unusable." The Telegraph report continues by suggesting that the al-Qa`eda force is blocked on three sides and might attempt a retreat "along the Kharoti Pass, a high and often snowbound track that leads south into neighboring Pakistan." This area is currently unoccupied by alliance forces, confirms mujahedin commander Hafta Gul in the Independent. "A large area is not under the control of the mujahedin," he said. "But they can`t escape over the mountains as they are very high. It is too cold for them to escape to Pakistan." Meanwhile thousands of US Marines moved into place 12 miles outside Kandahar yesterday to block any remaning al-Qa`eda members attempting to escape the city. Taleban leader Mullah Omar, in particular, is believed not to have escaped. Adml John Stufflebeem, a Pentagon spokesman, said: "We have good indicators that he has not left the area. He may not be in the city, but we don`t believe that he`s left the area." [... more]

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