Franks Calls Anaconda a 'Success'

BAGRAM, Afghanistan (AP) - The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan (news - web sites) declared Monday that the operation to destroy Taliban and al-Qaida in the eastern mountains was "an unqualified and absolute success" despite claims by Afghan allies that most of the enemy fighters got away.

Gen. Tommy Franks, chief of the U.S. military's Central Command, said the offensive — Operation Anaconda — would be over by day's end, but the fight against terrorists was far from over.

Britain announced Monday that it will send up to 1,700 troops to Afghanistan to help U.S. forces in future operations against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

In Washington, meanwhile, a senior Pentagon (news - web sites) official said U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan attacked a convoy of three vehicles believed to be trying to ferry al-Qaida fighters out of the Shah-e-Kot Valley area.

The attack on Sunday killed 16 enemy fighters and wounded one, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. One person was detained. There were no American casualties, the official said.