500 More Marines Deployed

ISLAMABAD, Tuesday Another 500 US Marines are due to be deployed at an airfield south of Kandahar in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s last citadel, “today or tomorrow”, a coalition spokesman has said. Some 500 Marines on Sunday and Monday secured the airstrip 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Kandahar city and set the stage for what US President George W. Bush indicated may be the big push to drive the Taliban into a final retreat. The international coalition against terrorism spokesman, Kenton Keith, told a news conference here the 1,000 Marines were an advance party and that they could well be joined by other coalition troops. “That can’t be ruled out,” Keith said. The first Marine units landed on Sunday by helicopters from the amphibious assault ships, USS Peleliu and USS Bataan. More Marines were flown in aboard C-130 transport planes after the airstrip was secured. Asked whether the Marines were likely to lead an assault on Kandahar or instead play a supportive role for anti-Taliban Northern Alliance troops, Keith replied: “That will be up to the military commanders.” He added, however, “They (Marines) have a wide range of capabilities.” AFP Ends