US warplanes have attacked Taliban targets north of Kabul heavily - positions on a hill that overlooks Bagram airport, a crucial North Alliance front line. It is thought that the intensity of the attacks could be a reaction to the Taliban killing of prominent opposition leader, Abdul Haq, on Friday.

Haq was captured and killed during an attempt to gather support among Afghanistan's majority Pashtuns for an Anti-Taliban alliance. The Taliban denounced him as a US and British spy.

A Taliban spokesmen has stated that a number of opposition soldiers have been captured, and ware being held for inverstigations. Five are reported to have been executed. The news comes as a further blow to the opposition forces, already suffering under the execution of Haq.

Northern Alliance leader Abdullah Abdullah has criticised the US-led military campaign, saying that the air attacks would have been more effective if there had been better coordination with opposition ground forces.

However, he also said that he was sure that the prime suspect behind the September 11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden, would be caught.

Real Admiral John Stufflebeam said that the US does not necessarily follow a strategy that coincides with Northern Alliance plans. "We're not going to adapt our game plan to theirs, necessarily, nor would we expect them to adapt ours," he said.

The Pentagon has confirmed reports that warehouses used by the International Committee of the Red Cross had been bombed by mistake. According to the ICRC, the buildings were clearly marked and all parties in the conflict had been informed of the wherabouts of the wharehouses.

British commandos to support US forces

200 of British commandos have been deployed in Afghanistan. The decision was made by the British government on Thursday. The UK's contribution will consist primarily of Royal Marines commandos, including specialists trained for winter and Arctic fighting.

A total 2400 soldiers will be involved in the operation.

The task forces concentrate mainly on hit and run combat, following a week of hard frontline US bombing.

The UK's contribution comes as it becomes clear that Afghanistan's air defences have clearly not been completely neutralised. Only a week ago the Pentagon declared that US air strikes had eliminated the Taliban's capacities to retaliate. North of Kabul, two American fighter jets narrowly missed being hit by a Taliban missile.

As more and more reports come in of injured refugees - civilians with wounds from the bombing and fighting - fleeing across the border to Pakistan, international pressure is rising.

And there is a rising wave of anti-US sentiment in Pakistan.