Nine al-Qa'ida camps destroyed, says Hoon

Airstrikes against Afghanistan have destroyed nine al-Qa'ida training camps, says the UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.

"We believe that nine al-Qa'ida camps were occupied before the start of the military operation. I can now tell you that we have successfully put all these camps out of action," he said.

"Nine airfields have been attacked and are now mostly out of action. Twenty-four military garrisons have been hit hard and forces in the field are currently being attacked, weakening their ability to withstand the Northern Alliance."

The Taliban air force, he added, was "effectively no more".