Bin Laden's whereabouts a mystery as his followers revolt against captors

Dozens of fighters loyal to Osama bin Laden--captured as they crossed the border from Afghanistan--rose up against their Pakistani guards today, seized weapons and escaped, the Associated Press reported.

Seven al-Qaida fighters and six police officers were killed, officials said. Pakistani tribal forces and army helicopter gunships pursued the fugitives, capturing 21.

International forces were preparing to take positions in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, in time for the inauguration Saturday of a six-month interim government. Military advisers from 17 countries that have offered to contribute peacekeepers were meeting in London to nail down details.

The United Nations Security Council was poised to approve the force, possibly by Thursday, after key council members agreed that the troops would be authorized to use military force if necessary. A vanguard of 200 British soldiers could move from Bagram airport to Kabul at the head of a force that could grow to as much as 5,000.

In Tora Bora, the whereabouts of bin Laden remained a mystery, as the capture of more of his followers brought new rumors.

An Afghan alliance commander said a few non-Afghan fighters were captured overnight without resistance, and more stragglers were expected to surrender as the weather turns colder and the snow deepens.

Afta Gul, a commander of the eastern tribal forces, said only a few of his men remained in the White Mountains, which were hammered during nine weeks of bombing by U.S. warplanes to kill or flush out an estimated 1,000 al-Qaida members who had taken refuge there.

Some captives "are telling us stories about Osama giving a speech 14 days ago and then leaving, but these men are not very credible," Gul said. "I have heard that Osama has shaved his beard and gone to Pakistan, but no one can say for sure."