Infantry backed by heavy artillery, rocket and mortar-fire seized the base near the eastern city of Gardez in the early hours of Monday morning, Ziauddin, a top local commander, said.

Ziauddin told Reuters more a dozen of Zadran's troops had been killed, including the commander of his base at Sayed Karam, some 20 km (12 miles) northeast of Gardez.

"We also lost some fighters," he said, speaking by satellite phone from the area. "Our attack began late yesterday and by seven a.m. this morning we took control of all of Sayed Karam.

"Raaz Mohammad, Zadran's main commander, got killed and we captured some prisoners too."

The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) said at last 20 fighters had been killed in the clashes.

It quoted witnesses as confirming that government troops had taken control of Sayed Karam but said fighting was still going on five km (three miles) away at Shakeen.

In February Padshah Khan used his base at Sayed Karam to shower Gardez with rockets, killing more than 30 people in revenge for his expulsion as governor by the local tribal council.

Zadran then moved to take control of the eastern town of Khost, but was also forced out of there earlier this month. There now seems to be a concerted effort to neutralise a warlord who has openly defied the authority of President Hamid Karzai.

"He no longer can pose any threat to Gardez," Ziauddin said. "This place (Sayed Karam) is where he was having his meetings, kept his arms... he has lost a crucial area around Gardez and as a whole in Paktia province."

Zadran or his commanders were not immediately available for comment. The burly, moustachioed warlord is now believed to be in the Sarwati area between Gardez and Khost.

REUTERS

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