US driven into 'trenches'

2004-09-10 00:05

Cairo, Egypt - Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, said mujahedeen, or holy fighters, have taken control of much of Afghanistan and driven US forces into the "trenches," according to a tape aired on Al-Jazeera TV on Friday.

Wearing a white turban, the bespectacled Egyptian surgeon said "southern and eastern Afghanistan have completely become an open field for the mujahedeen".

"As for the Americans, they are now lying in their trenches, refusing to come out to meet the mujahedeen, despite the provocation of attacks, hits and carjacking."

The tape was shown two days before the third anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the US.

- AP