Timeline: the attack on Afghanistan
(All times are BST)
Sunday October 7, 2001
http://www.guardian.co.uk/waronterror/story/0,1361,565187,00.html
Before the attacks
The US secretary of state, Colin Powell, calls the leaders of Mexico, Tajikistan,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Oman, Ukraine, Bahrain and Turkmenistan and Japan. He
also speaks to the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan.
Richard Armitage, Mr Powell's deputy, contacts key US to ensure their security
is at the highest possible level.
The US president, George Bush, telephones key coalition leaders to warn that
the strikes are imminent.
5.20pm
Planes roar over Kabul shortly after a nightly curfew takes effect and drop
bombs on Taliban targets in the city and near the airport. Electricity goes
off almost immediately, although it is not clear if this is a result of a
strike or a defensive measure.
5.30pm
Anti-aircraft fire and explosions are reported in Kabul, prompting news flashes
throughout the world to announce that the US-led war on terrorism has opened
a military front.
Strikes are also reported in Kandahar, the second city and home of the Taliban.
5.50pm
Mr Bush announces that the US, with Britain's help, has begun military strikes
against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and terrorist training camps belonging
to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
A statement from the prime minister, Tony Blair, confirms that British troops
are involved in the attacks.
6.10pm
Jalalabad, in the east of the country, comes under attack.
6.15pm
The German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, gives his backing to the strikes.
6.20pm
The anti-Taliban Northern Alliance says it supports the attacks, provided
there is "no damage" to civilians
6.35pm
Taliban officials say they are "ready for jihad".
6.55pm
The Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, says the military
strikes on his country are a "terrorist" attack and vows not to
handover Bin Laden. He says America will be responsible for the death of "Poor
and common Afghans" and vows to "fight to the last breath".
7pm
There is a second wave of attacks on Kandahar. The leader of the Taliban,
Mullah Mohammed Omar, is believed to be a target.
7.30pm
Bin Laden praises the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington without
claiming responsibility in a pre-recorded statement broadcast on an Arab TV
channel. He said America would have no peace until there was peace in Palestine
and called Mr Bush the "head of the infidels".
7.40pm
The French president, Jacques Chirac, announces that French forces will take
part in military action in Afghanistan.
8.20pm
The Pakistani foreign ministry releases a statement saying the Taliban had
brought the strikes on themselves but expressed hope that the operation will
be brief and spare civilians.
8.25pm
A compound near Kandahar airport is damaged but the runway is untouched, the
Taliban announces.
8.30pm
A residential area once used by Bin Laden near Kandahar is hit in the attack.
Russia backs the strikes, saying international terrorism must "face justice".
8.35pm
A senior Taliban official claims it has downed an unidentified plane in southern
Afghanistan during the attacks. There is no immediate independent confirmation.
8.45pm
Herat airport, in the west of the country, is reported to have been hit.
8.50pm
It is announced the US vice president, Dick Cheney, has been moved to a secret
location for his own safety. Mr Bush remains in the White House.