AFGHANISTAN; The women of Afghanistan yesterday marked their first International Women's Day since the fall of the Taliban with delegates at the main official function free of the burqa. But out on streets the Islamic dress still largely prevailed.
However, amid the celebration of new freedoms - attended by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson - even the most liberal of Afghan women present urged that their advance must be within Islamic teachings and not follow western models.
The interim Prime Minister, Mr Hamid Karzai, promised "to work to improve the lot of women after all their suffering under the narrow-minded and oppressive rule of the Taliban".
The meeting place was a destroyed open-air cinema set alight by the Taliban. The location was carefully chosen for its symbolism because the theatre is named after Zainab, a 14th century Muslim heroine and symbol of women's rights in Islam.
"This is a new beginning and a great beginning for Afghan women. I promise to support their cause.
"We are setting up workshops to promote education for them. We will focus on women as a priority," said Mrs Robinson.
President Bush warned Americans yesterday to expect more combat losses like the eight killed in an ongoing battle at Gardez in Afghanistan, saying there are "still dangerous missions left ahead".
Mr Bush was speaking to employees of the America II Electronics company in Florida shortly after meeting family members of two soldiers killed in the Gardez battle on Monday.
Fighting was intense yesterday in the southern sector of the 60 square mile area of operation, Col Joe Smith of the US army said. He said al-Qaeda forces had suffered "lots" of casualties over the previous 24 hours but gave no figure.
Heavy snow blanketed the region's mountain passes, but ground and air operations pressed on, and the rumble of heavy explosions from the battle area could be heard over 20 miles away.
With the fight intensifying, the interim government of Mr Karzai rushed in reinforcements, bolstering an Afghan force made up largely of militias recruited by US special forces. The central government was sending about 1,000 new Afghan fighters to the Gardez area, and about 600 had already arrived, said a town council member, Mr Safih Ullah. A convoy of 12 to 15 tanks was seen heading towards the battle zone yesterday.
Another convoy with trucks carrying multiple rocket launchers and other vehicles with soldiers armed with rifles and grenade launchers headed toward Gardez from Kabul.