Canadians find al-Qaeda bodies in blasted cave

The Canadian Press ^ | 3-17-02 | Stephen Thorne

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WITH CANADIAN TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN - Canadian engineers discovered two dead al-Qaeda fighters in an extensive cave complex in a mountainside yesterday after firing two rockets into it during offensive operations.

The Canadian soldiers also found a cache of mortars, grenades and rockets, including a 107- millimetre rocket -- which has an 8 1/2-kilometre range -- set up ready for firing. There was also a wood stove. All the weapons in the caves were destroyed.

Lieutenant-Colonel Pat Stogran, commander of the Canadian contingent in Afghanistan, said Operation Harpoon, which began on Wednesday, is going "swimmingly."

There have been no Canadian casualties, although some Canadian troops have been airlifted out with twisted ankles and injured backs due to the very rugged terrain and heavy loads they must carry in the Shah-e-Kot mountain range.

"It is grotesquely rugged terrain," said Lt.-Col. Stogran. "They have to live off their backs."

Lt.-Col. Stogran, with about 500 Canadians and 100 Americans under his command, could not predict how much longer the operation would last.

He said it will depend on how many more caves are found.

On Thursday Canadian reconnaissance troops found an extensive cave and bunker complex at the south end of the mountain.

They planned and laid out an attack and then called in U.S. assault troops. Three al-Qaeda were killed in the battle.

There were no Canadian or U.S. casualties.

Inside were rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and ammunition, as well as medical supplies and intravenous bottles hung from the cave ceiling.

By midday, a forensic team from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation came in to the destroyed bunker and cave complex and performed DNA tests on what bodies they could find.

While it is not suspected that Osama bin Laden nor Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar were in the cave complex, the FBI wants to make certain.

"Even if it's a long shot that maybe one of these al-Qaeda leaders [was there], we want to go through every means we've got available to us to try to positively identify them," U.S. Major-General Frank L. Hagenbeck, the commander of all coalition troops, said on Thursday.

U.S. Cobra helicopter gunships made a brief appearance on Thursday before departing for other theatres of operations.

Flashes could be seen and thunderous explosions echoed through the mountains and across the valley from the Canadians as B-52s and other strike aircraft tried to cut off al-Qaeda escape routes into neighbouring Pakistan.

Before dawn, a firefight broke out in the valley just below the Canadian troops. It is believed to have involve allied Afghan forces and al-Qaeda.

Red tracers could be seen floating across the valley, as every fifth shot is a phosphorus bullet, which leaves a red streak to show fighters what they are shooting. The exchange lasted about a half hour.

Detonations could be heard all over the mountainside yesterday as mortars, rockets and rocket-propelled grenades were destroyed by Canadian troops.

Canadian troops are holding up well, despite thin supplies of food and water, which didn't come in until late in the day. Several companies of Canadians manoeuvred along the mountainsides and in the valleys below.

"This is infantry," said Lt.-Col. Stogran, who made a foray of his own along the mountain ridge to see for himself what his troops had been doing.

"This is hard drudging and not enough money."

[COBOL2Java]

al-Qaeda are hosers, eh?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

	Canadian soldier Pte. Doug Tizya, right, gasps for air while moving through the Shah-e-Kot valley of Afghanistan, Friday, March 15, 2002. The operation marked the first time Canadian Infantrymen have been sent into battle since the Korean War. (AP Photo/Cpl. Lou Penney, Canadian Forces 3 PPCLI Battle Group Photographer, POOL) - Mar 17 6:50 AM ET
	Canadian soldiers Cpl. Ryan MacMillan, rear, and Cpl. Chris Alden wait for word to move in the Shah-e-Kot valley of Afghanistan, Friday, March 15, 2002. The operation marked the first time Canadian Infantrymen have been sent into battle since the Korean War. (AP Photo/Cpl. Lou Penney, Canadian Forces 3 PPCLI Battle Group Photographer, POOL) - Mar 17 6:50 AM ET
	Canadian soldiers move through the Shah-e-Kot valley of Afghanistan, Friday, March 15, 2002. The operation marked the first time Canadian Infantrymen have been sent into battle since the Korean War. (AP Photo/Cpl. Lou Penney, Canadian Forces 3 PPCLI Battle Group Photographer, POOL) - Mar 17 6:50 AM ET

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