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Al-Qaeda men killed in attack on hospital
Kandahar, Jan. 28.
U.S. special forces battled Al-Qaeda gunmen today at a hospital where several fighters had been holed up for nearly two months and had threatened to kill anyone who tried to capture them.
All but one of the gunmen, believed to have numbered five or six, were killed, Afghan fighters loyal to the Kandahar Governor, Gul Agha said on condition of anonymity. The building was stormed after the gunmen, most of whom were believed to be Arabs, rejected a surrender ultimatum today, the Afghans said.
A fire broke out during the operation and black smoke poured from the building, a wing of the hospital that was cleared out weeks ago except for the fighters. A series of six explosions were heard about nine hours after the attack began. American and Afghan forces moved into the walled Mir Wais Hospital compound before dawn, supported by helicopters. "The Arabs saw them, and they started firing," said Najabullah, an Afghan commander, briefing Kandahar government officials.
Two loud explosions and automatic weapons fire rocked the compound as the raid was launched. Najabullah said the besieged men had hurled grenades. A much larger explosion was heard more than five hours later and fire broke out. Fire trucks were allowed inside, and the scene began to resemble a standoff. — AP
Warm welcome for Karzai
Reuters reports from Washington:
The U.S. President, George W Bush rolls out the red carpet for the Afghan interim leader, Hamid Karzai today at White House talks expected to focus on how to rebuild Afghanistan after more than two decades of war.
The Pashtun tribal chief, who was catapulted last year from a little-known exile to the leader of his fractious nation, will also meet other members in the U.S. Government's top echelon today, including the Vice-President, Dick Cheney, the Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld and possibly the Secretary of State, Colin Powell.For Mr. Karzai, the talks are a chance to stress his support for the U.S. war on terrorism and to seek help in building the institutions in Afghanistan — including police and an army.
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