American special forces in Afghanistan are facing the new threat of 5000 heavily-armed Taliban soldiers who escaped capture in December and have since re-grouped north west of Kandahar.

The Taliban troops are believed to be armed with tanks, machine guns and armoured carriers.

An American spokesman also revealed yesterday that 15 Taliban fighters were killed and dozens captured in a raid by US special forces yesterday.

Defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that American forces were likely to remain in Afghanistan until at least the summer.