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US military commander in Afghanistan says operation Anaconda is over

U-S military commander, General Tommy Franks, admits Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters remain a threat in Afghanistan .. despite the winding down of Operation Anaconda in the east of the country.

South Asia correspondent Jonathan Harley reports.

During a visit to the Bagram airbase north of the Afghan capital Kabul, General Tommy Franks told about 350 american troops that Operation Anaconda would be over within 12 hours. He described the operation, which began two and a half weeks ago and in which eight US servicemen have died as an unqualified success. But in his remarks to journalists General Franks added words of caution. He admitted that US forces did not know where the top al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters were hiding and said the threat of more attacks continued. Operation Anaconda has been the biggest ground effort since the American led campaign in Afghanistan began in October and has involved troops from half a dozen countries, including Australian Special Forces.

19/03/2002 10:44:16 | ABC Radio Australia News

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