Afghan Leaders' Appeal for Surrender Complicates U.S. Mission GARDEZ, Afghanistan, March 9 -- Local Afghan leaders have appealed to al Qaeda and Taliban forces holed up in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan to surrender, a move that could delay a final ground assault on the area and strain relations with U.S. commanders eager to finish off the enemy.A commander from Gardez sent the message to Taliban commander Saeef Rahman Mansour this week following days of punishing bombardment by U.S. warplanes that have killed hundreds of Mansour's fighters, Afghan officials said today. Mansour refused the overtures, but political and military leaders...