U.S. `Bin Laden Arrest Unit` Dispatched to Tora Bora

U.S. press unanimously reported that the U.S. sent special forces composed of snipers and snatching specialists to the cave in Tora Bora , Afghanistan. It is believed that Osama bin Laden and the leaders of al-Qaida have not escaped from it.

The Washington Post and CNN reported, quoting a senior U.S. official, that △ fierceness of al-Qaida`s defense implies protecting someone △ bin Laden was sighted by Afghan troops who hemmed in the area △ bin Laden seems to be hiding in a cave in the Tora Bora valleys, according to the information that the U.S. collected independently.

And the Washington Post reported that a special `arrest unit` which is specialized in snatching and arresting, was organized and sent to the area. They are chosen from the special forces of Army, Marine, and Air Force, and intelligence agency officials who were deployed in the eastern Afghanistan.

In the meeting with journalists in Washington on 14th, Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense said, "we prefer taking bin Laden to court alive (to killing )."

U.S. press also reported, "Al-Qaida troops are hemmed in between Agam valley and Wazir valley to the North, fighting against anti-Taliban forces. They are surrounded on all sides, to the South isolated by Pakistan forces, and to the West and East along side blocked by snow-dusted peaks and ridges. And the U.S. B52 and AC130 war ships are raiding over them."

But the U.S. continues 24 hours watching over the region with tactical bombers and spy planes to strafe the al-Qaida forces` struggle to escape.

Hong Eun-Taek euntack@donga.com