Taloqan - US warplanes bombed positions around the surrounded Taliban bastion of Kunduz yesterday but an opposition general said a threatened offensive had been held back to let civilians flee. Northern Alliance general Mohammed Daud said the Taliban had up to 30,000 fighters dug in around the northern city.
Heavy US air strikes were carried out close to Kunduz ahead of the assault. The opposition says the Taliban has more troops than the alliance force surrounding them.