M A I N   N E W S

Osama in Afghanistan

Kabul, February 23
Osama bin Laden is still in Afghanistan and is planning further attacks on American interests, a spokesman from Afghanistan’s ousted Taliban regime said today.

A man identifying himself as Taliban spokesman Mohammed Saiful Adel said Bin Laden’s presence in Afghanistan was confirmed in a leaflet distributed to Taliban leaders in the south of the country.

The statement, read to AFP by Adel via satellite phone from the south of the country, rubbishes claims by the US military that they are confident of capturing the Al-Qaida leader by the end of the year.

“The untrue and false propaganda that the Americans have spread about our leaders and authorities — that they will arrest them by the end of the year — is all nonsense,” it says.

“It is part of Bush’s electoral game so he can win the elections that he has spread these rumours all over the world.

“The leaders of the Islamic movement (Taliban) and the military commanders — and of course our special guest Osama bin Laden and (Egyptian Al-Qaida leader) Ayman Al-Zawahiri — are in Afghanistan and are alive, busy planning anti-American operation plans.”

The announcement did not say whether the anti-American attacks bin Laden is planning will take place on Afghan or foreign soil. — AFP