(13 Dec 2001) STORY
U-S airstrikes intensified dramatically Thursday and Afghan tribal fighters launched a new ground assault against trapped Al-Qaida forces.
The attack followed claims that key terrorist leaders have fled Osama bin Laden's besieged mountain base for neighbouring Pakistan.

Bombing was relentless during Wednesday night and through Thursday morning.

Front-line tribal commanders said they had abandoned a plan for al-Qaida fighters, holed up in a mountainside canyon for three days, to disarm and surrender at midday (0300 GMT) Thursday.

One tribal unit advanced and captured a key al-Qaida position.

Local commanders said Thursday's assault was ordered after it became clear that senior al-Qaida chiefs had fled and had left the Tora Bora area and abandoned their rank-and-file troops.

Commanders said the fleeing leaders might be trying to cross the Pakistan border, just a few kilometers (miles) south across the White Mountain range.

The whereabouts of bin Laden remained unknown.

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