Alliance 'captures' key city

The Northern Alliance rebel opposition in Afghanistan today took part of the strategic city of Mazar-i-Sharif with the help of a ferocious US air bombardment, it was reported here.

Northern Alliance troops fought their way into the southern suburbs after concentrated attacks by F16 fighter bombers on Taliban positions, which had been defending the town and its strategically important airport.

The move came after a series of offensives by Alliance forces which over three days saw advances from Zari in the south to within striking distance of Mazar.

According to reports here - which could not be substantiated - Alliance forces routed defenders on the southern outskirts of Mazar after US air strikes devastated Taliban lines. One report reaching Islamabad said the remains of the Taliban defence had fled in panic, but this could not be confirmed and it was noted by Pakistani military sources that territory in this part of northern Afghanistan has changed hands many times.

But the reports indicated a serious change in the balance of power in the north of the country, brought about by the relentless air attacks on Taliban positions. The Taliban forces have tried to fend off high-altitude bombing and raids by low-level AC-130 flying gunships with rudimentary anti-aircraft fire, but to no avail.

Their spokesman in Islamabad said reports of Northern Alliance advances were " exaggerated", but observers here believed a corner in the war against the Taliban has been turned. US strategy is currently focused on taking as much territory as possible in the north of the country to allow a ground base for humanitarian aid and the launching of further attacks against the Taliban.