US readies Afghan offensive

The US military has announced an operation across southern and eastern Afghanistan to destroy Al Qaeda and Taliban infrastructure.

The operation, dubbed 'Mountain Storm', comes as US forces intensify their hunt for Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, believed hiding in the mountainous border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

But according to US military spokesman Lt Col Bryan Hilferty, the operation is not meant for only 'one person'.

Mountain Storm begins on Sunday and the entire 13,500-strong US-led coalition will be involved in it, he told CNN.

Hilferty said the operation would be a continuation of tactics already being used, such as intensive patrolling, village searches and impromptu checkpoints.