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Bush, Pakistan's Musharraf pledge unity against terrorism

Bush and Musharraf held a joint news conference on Saturday.

(CNN) -- President Bush and Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said they were united against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban, but did not think the opposition Northern Alliance should occupy the Afghan capital, Kabul.

It is important that Kabul be open to all Afghan factions to help create stability in the country, Bush said Saturday.

The two leaders met in New York to discuss strategy for the military campaign against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and plans for providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. The meeting followed their speeches to the United Nations General Assembly.

Musharraf condemned the September 11 attacks and said Pakistan would remain committed to the fight against terrorism.

In his address earlier Saturday, Bush worked to galvanize world leaders against terrorism.

"Every nation has a stake in this cause," Bush said during his first-ever address to the world body. "As we meet, the terrorists are planning more murder, perhaps in my country, perhaps in yours." (Full story/Bush transcript)

Meanwhile in northern Afghanistan, opposition forces began their battle Saturday for Taliban-controlled Kolkata Hill with a fresh supply of munitions. Kolkota Hill is near two major Taliban-held towns, Taloqan and Kunduz. Both towns are east of Mazar-e Sharif, a strategically important city that fell Friday to opposition troops. (Full story)

Saturday's casualties included a Northern Alliance commander who was killed in the fighting and at least one civilian killed in the town of Dashtiqala by incoming Taliban fire, CNN has learned.

Several other opposition fighters were badly wounded, losing limbs from what doctors confirmed were anti-personnel mines. Witnesses in Dashtiqala reported Taliban forces firing at U.S. B-52 bombers overhead.

Northern Alliance field commanders in the area told CNN they had 70 tanks on the move, a claim that could not be verified.

VIDEO Speaking to the United Nations, President Bush has strong words for nations that ignore terrorists. CNN's John King reports (November 10) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf talks about the need to wipe out the roots of terrorism (November 10) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   QUICKVOTE Osama bin Laden's claims to possess nuclear and chemical weapons are: Credible Scare tactics View Results    CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk  Complete coverage

Latest developments

• A delegation of international aid workers plans to meet with aid officials in Uzbekistan to begin planning delivering humanitarian aid overland to Afghanistan, the State Department said. (Full story)

• Russia, the United States and Afghanistan's neighbors -- Iran, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan -- said Saturday they welcomed reports that the United Front had issued a general amnesty in Mazar-e Sharif following the capture of the city. The countries also urged all parties to observe international humanitarian law. (Full story)

• The United States will offer Pakistan between $300 million to $500 million in new economic aid, but -- because of Islamabad's nuclear weapons program -- Washington is withholding release of 28 F-16 fighter jets it sold to Pakistan, administration aides told CNN. Bush and Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, were expected to discuss U.S. economic assistance Saturday in New York.

• President Bush refused to meet with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat during their Saturday visit to the United Nations. "You cannot help us with al Qaeda and hug Hezbollah. That's not acceptable," Bush National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Friday. "So the president continues to make that clear to Mr. Arafat."

• A Navy serviceman taking part in the Afghanistan military operations was officially declared dead after two days of search and rescue efforts, U.S. Department of Defense officials said Saturday. Bryant Davis, 20, a machinist's mate fireman apprentice from Chicago, Illinois, fell overboard from the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier Wednesday. The USS Kitty Hawk is serving as a floating base for U.S. Special Operations troops taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom.

• The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise returns to its home port Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia. The ship was on a six-month tour when it was ordered to return to the Persian Gulf region because of the September 11 attacks. (Full story)

• Responding to reports to the contrary, a Bush administration official said Saturday that bin Laden is not believed to possess nuclear weapons or the means to deliver any weapon of mass destruction. But National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack added that "credible indications" exist that bin Laden has sought to obtain such weapons. In an interview published in a Pakistani newspaper, bin Laden said he has nuclear and chemical weapons and will use them against the United States if attacked with similar weapons. (Full story)

• In the weekly Democratic radio address Saturday, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nevada, said 15,000 hotel and restaurant workers in Las Vegas alone had been laid off since the September 11 attacks. She called on Congress to pass legislation that stimulates short-term economic prospects and protects workers displaced by the tragedy.

• Four New Jersey postal facilities reopened Saturday morning after an overnight cleanup for anthrax. Traces of anthrax had been found at Palmer Square Station in Princeton, the main office in Rocky Hill, Villa Park (Station E) in Trenton and the main Jackson post office, state health department spokesman Eddi Bresnitz said. Bresnitz said officials are not recommending antibiotics for workers at the facilities because the situation is considered a low risk. He added that no anthrax traces were found in the facilities' public areas.

• French authorities said Saturday that they had detained five people they suspect were planning terrorist attacks in Strasbourg. Police say they believe the men have connections to extremist Islamic groups linked to the Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, who the United States has blamed for the September 11 attacks. (Full story)

• One day after Bush told Americans "let's roll" against terrorists, bin Laden's top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahari, criticized Bush for ignoring what he termed the root of the terrorist attacks: America's 50-year support for Israel. Appearing on videotape Friday broadcast by the Al Jazeera television network, al-Zawahari also said al Qaeda would fight the U.S. military until the last American soldier is out of Muslim territory. (Full story)