The US-led coalition in Afghanistan has launched a crack down on the suspected Taliban loyalists in the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, the commander-in-chief of coalition troops said Monday.

"As the operations in Jalalabad continue, you will have more details we can provide you through our press elements," David Barno told reporters here at a news briefing.

He declined to go into details but added his troops had a successful operation last week, killing a number of militants.

According to Afghan sources, during the operation in and aroundJalalabad launched Saturday, four suspected Taliban operatives were killed and five others captured.

"We continue to have more successful operations, which I think would continue in the next several days and weeks," Barno added.

Jalalabad, once a stronghold of al-Qaeda's chief Osama Bin Laden (OBL) and his Taliban host, has been serving as a US military base in east Afghanistan.

Flanked by visiting US Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace, Barno expressed his hope that Bin Laden would be captured and brought to justice.

"We would continue to track OBL until he is brought to justice," Barno stressed.

However, he added, "We will not be able to tell you precisely when track him down."

Source: Xinhua