Last pieces of America's giant military jigsaw move into place

By GEOFF CUMMING and AGENCIES

The final military preparations for war on terrorism appear to be in position now that days of shuttle diplomacy have stitched tight an unlikely international coalition.

Former Soviet republics are offering airspace and bases to the United States and the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk is nearing the Arabian Sea, from where it could provide a launchpad for special forces operations against Osama bin Laden's terrorism network in Afghanistan.

The US at the weekend launched a spy satellite capable of spotting small campfires and tracking Afghans on foot. The information it provides could determine the extent of military strikes in the mountainous country.

US and British aircraft carriers, more than 300 warplanes, ships armed with cruise missiles and special forces troops have gathered within striking range. About 30,000 troops have been deployed.

United States President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered what sounded like a final diplomatic message over the weekend. "Full warning has been given, and time is running out," President Bush said in a radio address.

"The Taleban has been given the opportunity to surrender all the terrorists in Afghanistan and to close down their camps and operations."

Mr Blair said plans were in place for a military strike. The Taleban had to close their terror camps or become an enemy.

But there was also fear of reprisals from bin Laden's far-flung network and fundamentalist Islamic sympathisers.

One senior British officer said: "So far, the plan is working. Afghanistan is now diplomatically isolated and our intelligence reveals that there is dissent within the Taleban.

"Any attack on Afghanistan will threaten the coalition and that is why an attack will only take place when diplomacy has failed."

Mr Blair and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld returned at the weekend from separate missions to shore up support from Arab allies and from Pakistan and Uzbekistan, Afghanistan's neighbours. Mr Blair also visited India.

Their missions came after Muslim countries expressed doubts about the US evidence linking bin Laden's network to the suicide strikes that killed nearly 6000 people in New York and Washington.

White House officials said Mr Bush was satisfied with cooperation from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Uzbekistan has made an air base available for use by US cargo planes, helicopters and troops, but only for humanitarian and rescue operations.

As Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze offered the US use of its airspace, airfields and other infrastructure, the US sent 1000 support troops to Uzbekistan in an unprecedented deployment in the former Soviet republic. The Taleban threatened to attack Uzbekistan if an attack was launched from there and deployed an extra 8000 fighters along the border.

"This is the question of our self-respect and we will never bow before the Americans and will fight to the last," a Taleban spokesman said.

After nearly four weeks of mounting tension, intense anti-aircraft fire erupted over Kabul on Saturday for about 15 minutes, sending residents racing into the streets, as gunners tried to bring down two aircraft.

An official said at least one of the planes was an unmanned surveillance drone.

In an apparent conciliatory gesture, spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar ordered the release of British reporter Yvonne Ridley, detained a week ago for illegally entering the country.

Map: Opposing forces in the war against terror

Afghanistan facts and links