US drops daisycutter on caves

American bombers detonated the devastating fuel-air bomb known as the daisycutter in attacks against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network high in Afghanistan's White Mountains.

More than 100 SAS and American Delta Force soldiers are believed to be scouring the mountains amid reports that Bin Laden's top lieutenants are still hiding out in the Tora Bora area. Some reports say that Bin Laden himself may have fled.

The BLU-82, a 15,000lb bomb, which ignites fuel to create a vacuum capable of sucking a man's lung out through his mouth, was used in Tora Bora for the first time. Its effects on caves, which can resist most other bombs, are magnified by the shortage of air.

Its use, combined with the deployment of special forces, indicates that US commanders believe it is worth risking their best soldiers in the search for al Qaeda's top men. Delta Force soldiers were seen on a ridge overlooking Malawa Valley dressed in Afghan hats and shawls covering their combat fatigues. This morning US bombers continued to pound high-altitude valleys.

In Washington, General Peter Pace, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said the Pentagon does not know if the al Qaeda leadership is in the Tora Bora area. He said it would be "great" if they were but that it was possible some fighters had fled Afghanistan. "It is certainly conceivable that groups of two, three, 15, 20 could, walking out of there, in fact, get out," the general said.

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