(24 Sep 2001)
Shakharak village - near Baghram airfield
1. Wide shot smoke rising over village
2. Various of northern alliance soldiers armed with RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenade) and other weapons
3. Wide shot showing tank in distance
4. Various of fighters
5. Truck driving past carrying northern alliance reinforcements
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rahmat Ramazan, Northern Alliance Spokesman: "As soon as possible we will attack. As soon as possible - to enter into Kabul."
Salar Shouhada, Panjshir valley
6. Wide shot people entering Masoud's grave site/ tomb
7. Various of people paying tribute to Masoud at the grave - which is small tomb
8. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Northern Alliance soldier (no name): "Masoud worked to create a strategy and worked out plans with the help of which we will liberate our country fighting against the Taliban enemy."
9. Wide shot exterior grave/ tomb
STORYLINE:
Artillery and rocket fire thundered across key areas of northern Afghanistan as opposition forces battled Taliban troops on Monday for control of strategic regions north of Kabul.
In the strategic Panjshir Valley, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) north of Kabul, heavy exchanges of mortar and artillery fire could be heard shortly before dawn on Monday.
Taliban forces tried to capture Baghram airstrip, which is controlled by the Northern Alliance.
They retaliated with artillery fire from the near-by fortified village of Shakharak, which is also under their control.
According to the Northern Alliance, after several hours of fighting and artillery barrages, them managed to repel the Taliban advance.
Baghram airstrip and the surrounding area is important as it leads from Kabul to Salang tunnel.
Salang is the strategic gateway to the Panjshir valley - where the Northern Alliance forces have their headquarters.
The Taliban control more than 90 percent of Afghan territory.
But the northern-based opposition alliance has stepped up its offensives in the days since the suicide attacks in New York and Washington and the September 15 killing of its leader, Ahmed Shah Masoud.
Masoud's body is buried in a make-shift tomb at the village of Salar Shouhada in the Panjshir valley.
Salar Shouhada means place of strong people.
Masoud's followers hope one day to be able to turn his grave site into a more impressive looking tomb.
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