Alliance's horseback charge

Northern Alliance forces now claim to be within eight miles of the northern provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif, after days of heavy fighting which have included horseback charges against Taliban tanks.

US special forces advisers report bands of Alliance fighters charging towards the Taliban tanks on mountain ponies.

A two-pronged assault led by the Uzbke chieftain General Abdul Dostum and the veteran Hazara tribal Mujahideen warlord Ustad Attah is to begin today, according to an Alliance spokesman .

Meanwhile, Tony Blair and George Bush pleaded for patience from allies over progress in the campaign. European allies, who have now volunteered nearly 15,000 military personnel, are waiting specific mission details.

Away from Afghanistan, American intelligence agencies say they have received information about camps in Iraq and South America which were set up specifically to teach terrorists how to hijack aircraft without weapons.