US warplanes today suspended bombimg at least some targets in Afghanistan for a day in deference to the Muslim holy day, the top US military officer said.
"We are not operating today ... as Friday is the Muslim holy day," Air Force Gen Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.
He said the halt would involve preplanned fixed targets such as air fields but did not make clear if aircraft would continue to go after targets of opportunity like moving vehicles or convoys.
Defense Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld declined to say when strikes might resume after five straight days of bombing and cruise missile raids against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and al-Qaeda guerrilla training camps.
Mr Rumsfeld said the Taliban's military had been weakened and camps associated with the al-Qaeda network of Saudi-born fugitive Osama bin Laden destroyed.
"No," Mr Rumsfeld replied when asked if he expected the Taliban to turn over bin Laden to the US. Washington accuses him of masterminded devastating September 11th attacks on America that left more than 5,000 people dead. President George W. Bush told the Taliban last night it was not too late to turn over bin Laden and his lieutenants.
Meanwhile Mr Rumsfeld today suggested that it was time for the armed opposition in Afghanistan to move against the Taliban in areas where the US has bombed.
"We feel we have done a certain amount with respect to those Taliban and alQaida military targets and it may very well be more appropriate for ground forces to be moving in areas where we previously have been bombing," Mr Rumsfeld said.
Asked if he was referring to US ground forces, he said: "No. There are a variety of forces on the ground that oppose al-Qaida and oppose the Taliban, there are even some in the Taliban that oppose the senior elements of Taliban, (leader Mullah Mohammad) Omar and his liutenants that have connected themselves so closely to al-Qaeda."
AFP