Ruling Militia Is Pounded Near Capital

Rockets landed near an airport on the outskirts of the capital, witnesses said, as fighting between the ruling Taliban militia and troops from the deposed government again threatened war-destroyed Kabul. The Taliban retaliated for the airport assault with several blistering air raids on government troops dug in around the strategic military base at Bagram, about 30 miles north of the capital. Troops loyal to ousted military chief Ahmed Shah Masoud captured the military base Saturday, handing the Taliban army its greatest setback since it overran Kabul on Sept. 27.