Prospects grew yesterday that Afghans may pass a winter free from hunger and bloodshed, but the US said its war on terror would go on, even if Osama bin Laden was found in a mountain hideout.
Afghanistan got much-needed good news as aid started to flow in, warlords appeared to patch up their differences -- for now, at least -- and outside nations offered soldiers to help keep the peace.
The austere Taliban faded into history, handing over Zabul Province where they had clung to power, and fighting was limited to eastern mountains where bin Laden and 1,000 diehard followers were reportedly making a final stand.
As Washington grew more hopeful it may soon get its man, the question loomed of what to do if bin Laden is caught alive. US Vice President Dick Cheney said he should face a US military court.
Afghan forces believed the man wanted for the Sept. 11 attacks on the US was leading his men in the Tora Bora mountains, under relentless assault from their fighters and US bombing. A commander near the front lines said the Saudi-born dissident's al-Qaeda forces had been driven from their cave complex, first into forests and now onto more exposed ridges.
"There is repeated day and night bombing. All of Tora Bora has been taken by our mujahidin. The enemy is on mountain tops between Tora Bora and Waziri Gorge," said Hazrat Ali.
"Osama may be there too. He was seen five days ago and an Afghan prisoner who we have confirmed it too. Osama has set up new caves and an underground protection system on top of these mountains. His people are putting up extremely tough resistance."
Citing officials, NBC News said US planes dropped one of their mightiest bombs on Tora Bora, the 15,000-pound Daisy Cutter that can devastate everything within a 500m radius. An Afghan agency said anti-Taliban fighters later advanced in a fresh three-pronged attack but met "intense resistance."
US leaders also say they believe bin Laden is trapped.
Cheney said even if he was caught or killed soon, the war on al-Qaeda -- suspected by Washington of operating in up to 60 countries -- would go on.
"Certainly the military operation would be pretty well wrapped up at that point, but we've had some other missions that we've wanted to accomplish," he told a television talk show.
Cheney said a videotape of bin Laden, made after Sept. 11 and found in an Afghan house, proved his involvement.
US sources said it showed bin Laden looking "amused" that some of the 19 hijackers did not realize they were about to die, and made clear he knew of the attacks in advance. But no decision has been made on making the tape public.
Cementing its presence, Washington moved marines and diplomats into its Kabul embassy for the first time since 1989.
Washington is also keen to track down the supreme Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, last seen in his southern base of Kandahar before his soldiers surrendered the city on Friday.
Rival warlords clashed for control in Kandahar but Afghanistan's second city was reported mainly calm yesterday, though still anxious after they reached a deal, and occasional gunshots were heard.
There were no reports of fighting in the rest of the country now controlled by factions from various ethnic groups which have agreed to share power in an interim government from next week.
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