AFGHANISTAN - Nov. 16 - Taliban Decide To Surrender Kandahar.

The Islamic Press agency reports Mullah Mohammad Omar has decided to hand over Kandahar to Mullah Naqeebullah and Haji Bashar, anti-Soviet guerrilla commanders, and to continue resistance in the mountains. (During the anti-Soviet conflict, Mullah Naqeebullah was associated with the Hezb-i-Islami party of Burhanuddin Rabbani, and Haji Bashar with the Hezb-i-Islami faction led by Mowlavi Yunus Khalis. The two warlords ran Kandahar as a fiefdom until they and their allies were toppled by Mullah Omar in Nov. 1994). There is no independent confirmation of the report. An official of a Pakistan-based group allied with the Taliban, speaking on condition of anonymity, says Mullah Omar was under pressure from local leaders to leave the city so that US attacks would be ended. The Taliban leader reluctantly accepted the deal late at night on Nov. 15 in return for safe passage, the official says. With the conflict in its 41st day, US warplanes continue heavy strikes on Kandahar and Kunduz, the only other remaining Taliban stronghold. Rumsfeld said US special forces were involved in ground combat, killing Taliban and Al Qaida fighters. He said no Americans died in the operations.