Northern Alliance Makes New Advances

KABUL, Thursday - Anti-Taliban military forces made new headway on Wednesday in northern Afghanistan as US warplanes renewed their raids to keep up the momentum in their month-old war against terrorism. A day after claiming its biggest victory in the war, the opposition Northern Alliance pressed its drive towards the key northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, entering Sholgera district, a spokesman said. “Our mujahedin (holy warriors) are advancing. We are hoping to capture Mazar-i-Sharif as soon as possible,” said Qari Qudratullah, a spokesman for commander Atta Mohammad. Sholgera is about 60 kilometers (36 miles) southwest of Mazar-i-Sharif and just north of the Keshendeh, one of three districts secured by the opposition on Tuesday in its most impressive victory to date. The Northern Alliance said it captured Keshendeh, Zari and Aq-Kupruk districts 70km south of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, after days of intense fighting and raids by US warplanes. Mohammad Ashraf Nadeem, another opposition spokesman, said 200 Taliban were killed and 300 surrendered on Tuesday, including a senior commander. AFP Ends