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Bush uses Veterans Day address to warn Taliban

Northern Alliance claims victory on several fronts

(CNN) -- President Bush took the occasion of Veterans Day to repeat his call to fight terrorism as Afghanistan rebels claimed more victories in the north.

Bush, speaking at a Veterans Day prayer breakfast in New York -- exactly two months after the September 11 attacks on the United States -- praised U.S. war veterans for their sacrifices and warned U.S. enemies in Afghanistan.

"Al Qaeda and the Taliban have made a serious mistake -- and because our military is brave and prepared and courageous they will pay a serious price." Later on Sunday, Bush visited the ruins of the World Trade Center where thousands of people died in the attacks. (Full story)

Two days after retaking the key northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif, the opposition Northern Alliance announced significant victories Sunday. It said its troops had captured the town of Pul-e-Khumri, which lies along a main road to the capital of Kabul, and the central province of Bamiyan including the city of Bamiyan.

The main east-west road leading from Herat to Kabul runs through the Bamiyan province. Bamiyan province was home to two giant Buddhas that the Taliban destroyed this year. Also, the Northern Alliance said it has taken control of the northern city of Taloqan, which lies about 120 miles east of Mazar-e Sharif.

Alliance claims could not be independently confirmed. (Full story)

VIDEO Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir discusses the recent interview he says he had with Osama bin Laden. CNN's Nic Robertson reports (November 11) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Northern Alliance Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah says the Taliban have lost "their main fighting force" (November 11) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   QUICKVOTE On this Veterans Day, have recent terror events given you a greater appreciation for U.S. military personnel? Yes No 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 journalist for Radio France International was killed Sunday in northeastern Afghanistan when the Taliban ambushed the Northern Alliance troops she was with, RFI officials said. The radio network said a second journalist traveling with the group was reported missing. (Full story)

• The Pentagon denied reports that U.S. forces struck a shrine in the Afghan village of Shahagha Thursday, killing at least 128 civilians and burying hundreds of villagers in the rubble of their homes. Shahagha is 60 miles (90 kilometers) northwest of Kandahar.

• The U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan has created "friction" between members of the al Qaeda terrorist network and leaders of the ruling Taliban, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Sunday. "It appears that there is at least some reason to believe that there is a difference of view, competition, between (Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed) Omar and his immediate lieutenants and Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants," Rumsfeld said on CBS' "Face the Nation".

Also appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Rumsfeld said the Northern Alliance has "effective control" of the strategic northern city of Mazar-e Sharif and is trying to secure the airport there. However, Rumsfeld said, "there are pockets of resistance within the city that continue."

• Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Sunday that he is "not at all worried" that he or his government may be in danger because of his support for the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism, which has triggered sometimes violent protests in his homeland. "The vast majority of Pakistanis are behind me. I'm very confident," he said in an interview on NBC's "Meet The Press" while in New York for the U.N. General Assembly meeting. (Full story)

• About 8,500 U.S. and Canadian sailors and Marines are scheduled to leave San Diego, California, for the Arabian Sea on Monday aboard the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier battle group. Pentagon officials said they will arrive for duty after traveling for about six weeks. The group includes 10 U.S. and Canadian ships and submarines, plus more than 80 tactical aircraft. (Full story)

• British troops are on the ground in northern Afghanistan working with the Northern Alliance and U.S. forces to battle the Taliban, the British Ministry of Defense said Sunday. The ministry confirmed a statement that Defense Minister Geoff Hoon made on a BBC radio program: "I can certainly confirm there are members of Britain's armed forces on the ground in northern Afghanistan, liaising with the Northern Alliance, providing advice and assistance," Hoon said. (Full story)

• Musharraf ordered an emergency redeployment of the country's nuclear arsenal to at least six secret new locations and reorganized military oversight of the nuclear forces, The Washington Post said in its Sunday edition.

• Two Afghan sites suspected of involvement in efforts by Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda followers to produce deadly chemicals have been identified by the United States, The New York Times reported in Sunday editions.

• Civil liberties advocates in Britain criticized a plan by the government to seek emergency powers to detain terrorist suspects without trial. The move follows a warning by U. S. Vice-President Dick Cheney that London's staunch support for the U.S.-led military campaign against Afghanistan could prompt retaliation by al Qaeda. (Full story)

• 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)