Afghan Taliban soldiers from Kunduz swtich to NAlliance

(24 Nov 2001)

Lower slopes of Mount Bangi, 15 kms (9 miles) east of Kunduz
1. Convoy of trucks carrying about 200-300 Taliban fighters goes past
2. Closer shot of trucks carrying Taliban fighters
3. Tracking shot of pick-up trucks with Taliban joking with journalists and pointing their rifles towards the camera
4. Taliban convoy on road
5. Northern Alliance tanks moving up to forward positions around Kunduz (shot earlier in the morning)
6. Man directing tanks
7. Tanks moving
8. Alliance soldier in tanks
9. Wide shot of tanks moving into position
10. Alliance soldiers watching
11. Various tanks moving
12. Tank driving off in dust cloud

STORYLINE:

More than 1-thousand defenders of the besieged Afghan city of Kunduz have surrendered, including hundreds of foreign fighters loyal to Osama bin Laden, the Northern Alliance said.

A convoy of 25 vehicles, carrying between 200 and 300 men, fled Kunduz on Saturday in tanks and pick-up trucks to surrender.

But the fighters haven't been taken prisoners of war - instead these Afghan Taliban fighters have switched sides.

They say they'll now fight for the Northern Alliance, attacking the foreigners who lived with them inside the Taliban stronghold.

After Kunduz has fallen they will be offered a choice - they will be able to give up their weapons and return to civilian life, or they will be rested and then continue fighting with the Alliance.

Around 600 foreign Taliban fighters in Kunduz have also surrendered, including Chechens, Arabs, and some Pakistanis, who were taken to the city of Mazar-e-Sharif by Northern Alliance forces.

Under a deal negotiated between the Alliance and the Taliban in recent days, the surrendering soldiers will be put in detention camps pending an investigation into their links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network and possible trial by Islamic courts in Afghanistan.

But it's feared many foreign Taliban fighters are still in Kunduz ready to fight to the death.

Despite the surrenders, Alliance fighters are preparing for battle as tanks are moved into position ready to bombard the city if resistance continues.

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